The Delhi High Court told the Delhi Police to assess the possibility of creating a ballistic database, storing reports of all firearms for which licenses are issued or endorsed to the public, which may be accessed in case of investigation.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the committee appointed by the Police Commissioner to also consult the technical experts of CFSL with respect to the same.
Factual Background
The development came in during a hearing of a bail application filed in the year 2018 pursuant to an FIR which was registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act. It was observed that in the said FIR as well as from the other cases which came up before the Court that whenever any weapon is recovered, no fingerprints are taken from the weapon or the bullets or rounds or shells that are found in the weapon.
The Court was then informed that there was no specific procedure laid down whereby directions are issued to the investigating officers or other police officers to take fingerprints from a weapon or the bullets or rounds which are recovered from crime scenes or from possession of the accused.
During the recent hearing, the DCP of Delhi Police made aware the Court of the fact that the issue of installation of GPS devices on licensed weapons was being examined by a Committee appointed Commissioner of Police. He also submitted that the said committee was of the view that owing to the technical, financial and privacy concerns, the same may not be the apt option.
Observation of the Court
“The Committee supporting the Police Commissioner referred, above, to examine the possibility of the Ballistic Database, where ballistic reports of all firearms, in respect of which licenses are issued to public, can be stored so that said database can be accessed in case of an investigation”, the Court ordered.
While asking for a fresh report status to be filed before the next date of hearing, the Court listed the matter for directions on April 8, 2022.
Case Details
Before: Delhi High Court
Case Title: Sourabh Mangoo@Sunny vs. State GNTC Delhi
Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Sanjeev Sachdeva
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