JAMMU, Oct 20:
In the infamous arms licences scam, a Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta, while expressing its displeasure over the non-filing of the latest status report by the UT Administration, granted last and final opportunity to Senior AAG S S Nanda to do the needful in terms of order dated August 13, 2024.
After hearing counsels for the PIL titled Sheikh Mohd Shafi and Another Versus Union of India and Others, the DB said, “perusal of the previous orders passed by this court would show that Senior AAG S S Nanda has not done the needful in terms of order dated August 13, 2024 and it is made clear that if the directions are not complied with by the next date of hearing, appropriate orders would be passed against erring respondents”.
The Division Bench further observed, “notices issued to newly impleaded respondents— CBI through its Director and Head of Branch, Special Crime Branch, Chandigarh have not been received back served or unserved”. The DB also directed the DoPT, Government of India to submit before the court the outcome of the clarification sought from Ministry of Home Affairs in terms of its letter No. 107/22/2023-ADV.I/CII dated 08-08-2024 before the next date of hearing.
In the status report filed by the CBI on October 15, 2024 it has been mentioned that the CBI sought prosecution sanction against 10 IAS officers who from 2012 to 2016 were discharging their duties in several districts of J&K as District Magistrates. The CBI further revealed that around 2.74 lakhs gun licences were issued by the District Magistrates in contravention of the Arms Act and by abusing their official positions for monetary considerations. The CBI further revealed that around 13 charge Sheets have been filed in J&K against JKAS officers, gun dealers and middle-men, however, charge sheets could not be filed against IAS officers for want of prosecution sanction.
Looking into the importance of the matter, the Division Bench directed the Registry to re-notify the instant PIL on November 19 and also directed the respondents to file response to CM No. 2618/2024 filed by Advocate Ahtsham H. Bhat.