New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the city government to file a status report on the steps taken to stop the private manufacture and sale of army apparel and gear.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar asked the Delhi Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner to file the report within eight weeks.
The court also slammed the central government, saying despite the seriousness of the issue the Centre does not seem to be interested in doing anything.
The court said the issue has implications on "state security and public safety".
The bench was hearing a plea filed by an NGO which said that there was possibility of misuse of open sale of military apparel in terror attacks.
The court also took note of the terror attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in January 2016 by terrorists dressed in Indian Army fatigues which led to the death of seven security personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, and a civilian.
In November 2016, too, terrorists dressed in police uniform had attacked the army's XVI Corps headquarters at Nagrota in Jammu district, killing seven security personnel, including two officers.
The NGO has sought steps to curb private sale and manufacture of military apparel like uniforms, shoes, badges and other gear used by the armed forces which were being made by private industries in Ludhiana and Amritsar in Punjab and sold all over the country.
