New License Book Ordeal

[veeveeaar]

As my license book is over and old , i applied for a new license book to my DM. After nearly eleven months, I was made to run from table to table because i did not go and" SEE" the concerned clerk and head clerk (thashildar rank) ,as i firmly believe in GHANDHI GIRI and finally one day the " designated officer" i.e. P.A.(G)to DM (deputy collector level) called me to verify my request and quizzed me about the fees paid ,compared the details of the entries that where made in the old book and the new book and put his initials on it, to be finally countersigned by the DM .When i got my new book, to my disbelief, i found that the name and address were not written in BLACK INK and not in CAPITAL LETTERS and all entries were illegibly scribbled and all important details were not entered, as if deliberately to crack or break my WILL.The climax is the DM has counter signed all these illegible and incomplete entries. I suspect all are working in clock work coordination to harass the straight forward and law abiding license holders. I would like to appeal to all IFGians to come forward with all their bad experiences and I request our IFG legal eagle to bring out a fine detailed reply and also create awareness about these often unheard hurdles and fight corruption and red tape and also guide the common INDIAN.
JAI HIND

[goodboy_mentor]

Is writing on license booklet supposed to be in blank ink and capital letters? I am not sure.

If the document has been duly signed and stamped by the competent authority, it is a legally valid document. Nothing to be worried about the legality of that document.

About the question of "illegibly scribbled" and "all important details were not entered" is concerned, yes this is something to worry, because the illegible or the missing contents of the legal document may become a matter of question in future. In my opinion do not show any emotions, just politely do an application under RTI Act 2005, to provide you with certified copies(at least 2-3 copies) of the complete details of your firearm license. Once you get the certified copies, keep them at different safe locations. If you ever need to "prove" the contents on your license, you have certified copies obtained via RTI Act 2005 with you, the authenticity of which cannot be legally questioned.

[ebenezer]

My dad had applied for a new licence book after the old one got over with the pages literally in shreds. This licence book was issued in 1975. They don't issue it as a new licence book, but as a 'duplicate' licence book. This, after retaining the old one. But the irony was that the previous entries bore no seal as they were made by the DM of Kancheepuram, under whose limits my father resided before. The entries are just scribblings of details of the earlier weapons. They have copied everything in the old book word by word, including the ammo entries made by the arms dealers (of course, without their seals). Even the present DBBL's entry (registered with the current DCP) doesn't have the seal of the DCP's office. But this seems to be the accepted practice as the new book bears the seal of the Commissioner of Police as a whole.

Ebenezer

[veeveeaar]

Hi goodboy ( It is black and not blank )Normally all such important document entries were/ are written in black ( indian ink ) and always in capital letters . This is usually intended to make over illegible hand writing and spelling mistakes and to aid easy scrutiny by any official. When it is illegible and not clear , any corrupt or over zealous official checking the licence can detain you on such grounds of suspicion and you get harrassed or taken for a ride. More over in the best interests of National Security and the like, I think that all entries should be in black ink and distinct capital letters as required in all application forms etc.

[Anand]

In order to circumvent these sort of issues, with the permission of the L.A, additional pages may be added to the license book and re-bound. In theory, so long as you don't lose the book or it is not damaged or destroyed, you could have just one license book for a life time if you don't change your firearms too often!

Regards,
Anand