The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought explanation from the Centre about the norms for issuing gun licences to private security persons and how agencies engaging them are being regulated.

Issuing notice to the Centre, a bench of justices D K Jain and J S Khehar said that the recent incident in which firearms were allegedly used by private security personnel is a matter of grave concern.

The bench without naming the Ponty Chadha incident said, a recent firing incident, widely reported in the press, resulting in the death of two persons, allegedly on account of use of firearms by some private security personnel is a matter of grave concern.

The bench said it raises serious issues regarding the role of security agencies, especially the private ones.
The Apex Court directed the Home Ministry to respond on what is the legal regulatory framework under which the private security agencies operate and what are the norms for granting weapon licences to private security personnel.