RTI query to Delhi Police and its Response (Delhi Police)

[inplainsight]

Got a response to my appeal!

In this connection, I am to inform you that the complete information as asked by you vide your application dated 20.11.2012 under RTI Act, 2005 has been provided to you by PIO/Licensing vide letter No. XXXXX/PIO/Lic. (Fresh Arms) dated 14.12.2012 and no further information can be added in the reply given by PIO. Your appeal is disposed off, accordingly.

What crap! I had asked to be present during the hearing!

[nagarifle]

next step the commission,
do not get hooddwinked. unless what you asked for is open ended questions.

[inplainsight]

Yeah, I will have to appeal too. Just mind boggling. I had specifically requested a personal hearing...

They are openly lying. There is nothing in the Arms Act regarding the methods used to access the Specific Threat level of an applicant.

[nagarifle]

agree, there is noting in the arms act. thus you must always refer to the act/rules and ask the question which is higher the internal memo or the act/rules? to which do they give preeminence to? do they enforce the act/rules etc or not?

[TC]

But the RTI appeal / application will not get us anywhere. What we need is a writ in the High Court or Supreme Court challenging this.

Precisely, and not by one gun owner or individual but by many from all corners of the country, as one

TC

[nagarifle]

agree but who is going to do it? who is going to pay?

[spin_drift]

agree but who is going to do it? who is going to pay?

We all can provide financial contribution and file a writ under the banner of NAGRI

[inplainsight]

Count me in. I'd split all the costs and the work load.

Planning on filing a second appeal for this. But don't expect much.

[nagarifle]

who is going to find a lawer? thats worth his salt? who is going to collet the bread? and oversee it all?

[inplainsight]

Finding and funding the lawyer would be the most challenging part. I'm sure there are many esteemed lawyers on IFG who might be willing to work for more affordable fees.

[nagarifle]

check with the mods on that one

[TC]

Kandarp, Nagarifle and other members who are really concerned,

About ten days ago I was having a long conversation with Capt. Rakshit Sharma when I proposed what I posted yesterday. The point is "who is going to bell the cat" kind of approach is not going to work because some years down the line we will find one fine morning that all our guns are gone. Trust me, its going to happen because the weapons we are taking so much pride in today are not going to survive forever and cannot be passed on from one generation to the next endlessly. Like everything else on earth these pieces of metal too are not immune to the elements, abuse and human errors. And, we should not be asking our great great grand children to buy 200 year old .32 Webleys for a crore if at all they can prove that they need guns for self protection.

This is what I feel we should do and I am placing this before all esteemed members and moderators. I request everybody to ponder over these points if they think I am correct.

1) A proper case needs to filed before the Supreme Court challenging certain decisions of the GOI and sections of the Arms Act. There is no point in moving any High Court because Arms Act applies to all states and all citizens. Moving at state level, even if we win the first round, will give the babus time and breathing space to prepare their defence and delay hearings at every stage.

2) We deploy one or two good lawyer/s, a man with conviction, one who believes in the cause. We must strictly avoid lawyers, no matter how reputable, to whom this will be "just another case". And, before sitting with the lawyers, we members should draw up a clear blueprint of the strategy to be followed. There is no scope for errors, afterthoughts, dilutions and deviations.

3) We need funds and we cannot expect sponsors and freebies. But I am sure if things move in the right direction we will get support of more people.
IFG members have to pull in financial resources and prepare a corpus first before making the first move. Let all members take time and decide for themselves how much money they can contribute. It can be a one time contribution or contributions spread over a period of time.
If this thing works out and if we really make a serious move then I promise to start with an initial contribution of Rs 10,000 and keep contributing Rs 10,000 every year till the litigation continues. I wish I could do more but I live on a salary that is not fat in any sense but I promise to live up to my words. I am saying this because every member who takes the plunge must be prepared for a long battle and my experience says most people give up or retire halfway through battles like these. The initial excitement fizzles out fast and that is scary.

4) I hate to say this but members living in Delhi or in places close to the capital have to take most of the responsibility as far as legwork, meeting lawyers,appearing at hearings etc are concerned. These members have to be part of the core group. This I guess cannot be avoided because people such as me or Nagarifle live too far. But lets make it a point to meet in Delhi at least once a year or else the movement will lack the spirit of unity that is most essential for a movement. The time and venue of this meeting should be determined at least three months in advance (unless of course some emergency come up) so that everybody gets enough time to arrange leave etc.

5) I think we all know the points that are to be raised before the Supreme Court. I am summarizing mine quite bluntly.

a) Why is there a ban on import of firearms by private citizens ?

b) Who has given the government the right to decide whether an educated, tax paying, law abiding citizen should or should not feel threatened in the society he lives in ?

c) How many private citizens owning licensed firearms have posed a threat to society since the Independence of India vis a vis criminals, terrorists and members of political parties indulging in violence.

d) how many politicians, bureaucrats and IPS officers in the country own personal firearms and why ?

I suggest we focus on the basics or else much of the conversation will be lost in legal translation.

I look forward to your reactions and request moderators to start a fresh thread if it deems fit.

Regards

TC

[ruger_rugged]

with TC
Count me too for the contribution.

[a__v]

Count me in too.

[Anand]

Me too!
Anand