Indians For Guns

The last couple of renewals of Arms Licenses in Hyderabad, the duration between renewals was reduced from 3 years to 2 years. The reason cited at various times on interacting with the Arms clerk was that " its a policy decision" , "the licensees are not submitting licenses for renewal on time" etc.
The outcome of this reduction in time period between renewals is that all licenses were set to expire on 31 Dec of the year of expiry. This was done perhaps to make it easier to remember the renewal date.

While the above may or may not have anything to do with the title of this thread, I have just submitted licenses of 3 family members for renewal and here is the story. Arms licenses of All India validity and adjoining states are to be done only by the Secretary of Home Affairs in the Secretariat and will be renewed for 3 years and those of Andhra Pradesh validity will be renewed at the level of DCP, District Magistrate, Collector etc. for 2 years.

Payment of fees for such renewal has been set a few years ago at Rs.50 for Revolver,Rifle, Pistol & Gun and Rs.20 for .22 Rifle. Earlier, whether this fees was for the entire renewal period was not clear. Now, I am told this is for each year of renewal to be paid in advance at the time of applying for renewal.For example, Since I have a Revolver, Pistol and Rifle I had to pay Rs.450.

I was told that the Home Secretary will renew the Licenses and send a letter to inform the licensee, after which he/she has to go to the Secretariat to collect it. I am not sure how they will return the licenses of those who live outside
Hyderabad, since apparently they did not want to " risk loss of licenses in the mail".
Regards,
Anand

dont they have other works

A quick update: Today(14-03-2013) I got back my renewed License. It was renewed by the Section-in-Charge at the Home Secretary's Office at the Secretariat. But as was mentioned earlier, there was no correspondence from the Department as to renewal. On following up with the DCP's office, was told by the Arms Clerk to follow up at the Secretariat itself. Which I did by sending my " man" to the Secretariat . My file was pulled out and the renewal had already taken place on the 24-1-2013, but they had neither informed me by phone nor through a letter to pick up my license. My "man" reported that they were apparently cursing the fact that so much work was now being loaded onto them with no real "benfit".

Anyway this renewal was for 3 years again! My previous renewal was for 2 years and the earlier one was for 1 year and 9 months at the DCP's Office. Even now, I am told that all A.P and lesser area Validity licenses are being done for 2 years.
regards,
Anand