Jogendra Singh vs State Of U.P. And Others
2018 Latest Caselaw 474 ALL

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
 
 

A.F.R.
 
Court No. - 25
 

 
Case :- WRIT - C No. - 75847 of 2011
 

 
Petitioner :- Jogendra Singh
 
Respondent :- State Of U.P. And Others
 
Counsel for Petitioner :- R.K. Sharma,Kesh Mani Dubey
 
Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.
 

 
Hon'ble Siddhartha Varma,J.

The instant writ petition has been filed against the order dated 31.7.2009 passed by the Additional District Magistrate City, Ghaziabad by which he cancelled the fire arm licence of the petitioner and against the appellate order passed by the Commissioner, Meerut Mandal Meerut by which the appeal of the petitioner was dismissed.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the only ground which has been taken by the cancelling authority is that there were criminal cases pending against the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner has further submitted that the mere pendency of criminal cases is not a ground for the cancellation of a fire arm licence. He has further submitted that the State of Uttar Pradesh has come out with certain guidelines on 7.2.2018 and the fire arm licence could have been cancelled only after the cancelling authority found that any of the guidelines was violated. He has submitted that even though, the guidelines have been published in the year 2018, they were always known to the State Government and the authorities were to be guided by the guidelines which have now been published. The guidelines which have been published on 7.2.2018 and were read out by the learned counsel for the petitioner are being reproduced here as under:

LihM [email protected]@bZ&esy

la[;k% [email protected]@tu&102&N"iq0&5&2018&[email protected]

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Hkxoku Lo:i

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mRrj izns'k 'kkluA

lsok esa]

leLr ftyk eftLVªV]

mRrj izns'kA

x`g ¼iqfyl½ vuqHkkx&5 y[kuÅ fnukad% 07 Qjojh 2018

fo"k;%& O;fDrxr 'kLr ykblsalks ds vuqKfIr;ksa es ifjorZu&ifjo/kZu] muds fuyEcu ,oa izfrlagj.k ds laca/k es] fn'kk funsZ'kA

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vk;q/k vf/kfu;e] 1959 dh /kkjk &17 es vuqKfIr;ksa es ifjorZu&ifjo/kZu] muds fuyEcu ,oa izfrlagj.k ds laca/k es O;oLFkk nh x;h gSA mijksDr ds vfrfjDr ek0 loksZPp U;k;ky; ,oa ek0 mPp U;k;ky; n~okjk Hkh le;≤ ij rRlEcU/k es foLr`r vkns'k ikfjr fd;s x;s gSA x`g ¼iqfyl½ vuqHkkx&5 ds 'kklukns'k la[;k&271 [email protected]%&iq0&5&91&[email protected]] fnukad 25-02-1991 n~okjk vkXus;kL= ykblsalksa dk [email protected] o 'kklukns'k la[;k&3017 [email protected]% &iq0&5&99] fnukad 15-05- 1999 n~okjk O;fDrxr 'kL= ykblsalkas dk nq:iz;ksx jksdus ds laca/k es funsZ'k fn;s x;s gSA

2- mDr ds n`f"Vxr eq>s ;g dgus dk funsZ'k gqvk gS fd O;fDRkxr 'kL= ykblslksa ds vuqKfIr;ksa es ifjorZu&ifjo/kZu] muds fuyEcu ,oa izfrlagj.k ds laca/k esa fuEukuqlkj dk;Zokgh lqfuf'pr fd;k tk;&

¼1½ ftyk eftLVª[email protected] izkf/kdkjh fyf[kr vkns'k n~okjk vXus;kL= vuqKfIr dk lqfuf'pr dkykof/k ds fy, fuyfEcr dj ldrk gS ;k vuqKfIr dks izfrlagfjr dj ldrk gSA

¼2½ mijksDr [email protected] rHkh fd;k tk,xk tc ftyk eftLVª[email protected] izkf/kdkjh dks ;g lek/kku gks tk, fd&

d½ vuqKfIr/kkjh fdlh fof/k ds varxZr vk;q/k j[kus gsrq izfrf"k) gS ;k fod`rfpRr gS ;k fdUgh vU; dkj.kksa ls vk;q/k vf/kfu;e es vuqKfIr ds v;ksX; gS] vFkok

[k½ tc ftyk eftLVª[email protected] izkf/kdkjh yksd'kkafr dh lqj{kk ;k ^yksd{ks=^ ds fy, vuqKfIr dks fuyfEcr ;k izfrlagfjr djus ds ;qfDr;qDr vk/kkj ikrk gS] vko';d le>rk gS vFkok

x½ tcfd ;g izek.k gks fd vuqKfIr xyr tkudkjh ds vk/kkj ij izkIr dh xbZ gS] vFkok

?k½ tcfd vuqKfIr dh fdlh 'krZ dk mYya?ku fd;k x;k gS] vFkok

M+½ tcfd vuqKfIr /kkjd dks viuk 'kL= ifjnRr djus dk funsZ'k fn;k x;k gks vkSj mlds n~okjk 'kL= dk ifjnku u fd;k x;k gksA

¼3½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks vuar le; ds fy, 'kL= vuqKfIr fuyafcr vFkok izfrlagfjr ¼fujLr½ ugha djuh pkfg,A vuqKfIr ds fuyEcu vFkok izfrlagj.k dh vof/k lqfuf'pr gksuh pkfg,A

¼4½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks ykblsal fuyafcr vFkok fujLr djus dk vf/kdkj vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ¼3½ ds varxZr iznRr gS vkSj mDr dk;Zokgh djus ls iwoZ vuqKfIr/kkjh dks lqus tkus dk volj iznku fd;k tkuk vko';d gSA

¼5½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh ekeys ds rF;ksa vkSj ifjfLFkfr;ksa ij fopkj djrs gq, ;fn ;g mfpr ikrs gSa fd izdj.k esa rkRdkfyd izHkko ls vk;q/k vuqKfIr dk vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh n~okjk ifjnku fd;k tkuk vko';d gS rks ,slk djus dk vkns'k vfHkfyf[kr fd;k tk;sA

¼6½ ek= fdlh vkijkf/kd ekeys dk yfEcr jguk 'kL= vuqKfIr [email protected] djus dk i;kZIr vk/kkj ugha gSA ;gkW ;g Hkh Li"V djuk lehphu gS fd ek= ,d vkijkf/kd izdj.k ds yfEcr gksus ds vk/kkj ij Hkh fof'k"V ekeyksa esa vk;q/k vuqKfIr dks [email protected] fd;k tk ldrk gS] ijarq vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks ,slk djus ds i;kZIr vk/kkj vius vkns'k esa vfHkfyf[kr fd;s tk;A ;g Hkh vko';d gS fd ,sls vk/kkj vfHkfyf[kr djrs le; ;g Li"V mfYyf[kr fd;k tk; fd vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks lek/kku gks x;k fd iz'uxr vkijkf/kd izdj.k dh izd`fr ,slh gS fd og vketu vkSj lekt dh yksd'kkafr ,oa yksd+{kse ds izfrdwy gS vkSj ;fn vuqKfIr/kkjh dks vuqKfIr j[kus nh xbZ rks yksd'kkafr o yksd{kse ij izfrdwy izHkko iM+sxkA

¼7½ ;fn fdlh 'kL= vuqKfIr ds fuyacu ;k izfrlagj.k dh dk;Zokgh vkijkf/kd okn ds vk/kkj ij dh xbZ gSa rks ;fn mDr vkijkf/kd vfHk;ksx] nks"keqfDr esa ifjofrZr gks tkrk gSa rks 'kL= [email protected]=hdj.k ds vkns'k dk vkSfpR; Hkh lekIr gks tkrk gS] ijarq ;fn mDr vfHk;skx jkT; n~okjk vihy ;ksX; ik;k tk, ,oa mDr izdj.k dh vihy dh tk, rks jkT; dks mDr nks"keqfDr ds vkns'k dh vihy ds fu.kZ; rd vuqKfIr/kkjh dh 'kL= vuqKfIr [email protected] jg ldrh gSA vr% ,sls izdj.k tgkW ftyk eftLVsªV ds le{k nks"keqfDr ds vfHkdFku n~okjk vius 'kL= vuqKfIr [email protected]=hdj.k dh dk;Zokgh dks vikLr djus dh izkFkZuk dh tk,] ogkW ftyk eftLVsªV ;g tkudkjh djuk lqfuf'pr djsaxs fd izdj.k esa dksbZ jkT; vihy ;[email protected] rks ugha dh xbZ gSa\ rFkk mlds mijkUr gh fdlh fu.kZ; ij igqpsaxsA

¼8½ tgkW ij vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh n~okjk ;g lek/kku fd;k tk jgk gS fd vuqKfIr/kkjh dk d`R; yksd'kkafr vkSj yksd{kse ds izfrdwy gS rks bldk rkRi;Z dkuwu O;oLFkk fcxM+us dh lkekU; ifjfLFkfr;kas ls ugha le>k tk,xk] vfirq yksd'kkafr vkSj yksd{kse izHkkfor gksuk rFkk lekt ij O;kid vlj ls rkRif;Zr gSA

¼9½ 'kL= fujL=hdj.k dh dk;Zokgh yfEcr jgus vFkok dksbZ vkijkf/kd fopkj.k yfEcr jgus ds nkSjku vuqKfIr/kkjh 'kL= j[kus ds fy, vf/kdkj Lo:i ekWx ugha dj ldrk gSa D;ksafd 'kL= vuqKfIr ,d vf/kdkj ugha ek= ,d lqfo/kk gSA

¼10½ vuqKfIr izkf/[email protected] eftLVsªV vius rkfRod lek/kku ds fy, iqfyl] vfHk;kstu ,oa vU; ,tsafl;ksa ls vk[;k vkgwr dj ldrk gSA blds lkFk gh ftyk eftLVsªV n~okjk izdj.k ls lacaf/kr lHkh lqlaxr vfHkys[k ij fopkj djus rFkk vuqKfIr/kkjh dh ikfjokfjd i`"BHkwfe] mlds iwoZ vkijkf/kd d`R; vkSj mldk vkijkf/kd bfrgkl dks fopkj esa ysus ds mijkar gh leqfpr vkns'k ikfjr fd;k tk;A

¼11½ vuqKfIr izkf/[email protected] eftLVsªV vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ds mica/kksa ds varxZr ;g lek/kku gksus ij fd dksbZ vuqKfIr/kkjh fdlh xaHkhj vijk/k esa lfEefyr gksus] nks"kfl) gksus ;k fdlh vU; vkuq'kkafxd dkj.k] ftls oks rkfRod :i ls mfpr ikrk gks] ds vk/kkj ij vuqKfIrdkjh dks vuqKfIr /kkj.k djus ds fy, v;ksX; O;fDr dh Js.kh esa ikrk gS rks og 'kL= vuqKfIr dks [email protected] dj ldrk gSA

¼12½ vXus;kL=ksa ds ykblsal lqj{kk dh n`f"V ls Lohd`r fd;s tkrs gSaA budk iz;ksx 'kknh&fookg vFkok lkoZtfud Lfkkuksa ij izn'kZu ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg,A ,slk fd;s tkus ls turk esa Hk; dk okrkoj.k O;kIr gksrk gSA tks O;fDr 'kL=ksa dk iz;ksx izn'kZu gsrq vFkok turk esa Hk; O;kIr djrs gq, ik, tk,W] muds 'kL= ykblsal dh 'krZ la[;k 5 dk mYya?ku djus ds vkjksi esa ,oa 'kL= vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ¼3½ ¼[k½] ¼?k½] ¼M+½ ds v/khu rRdky fujLr djrs gq, fof/kd dk;Zokgh dh tk ldrh gSA

¼13½ ;fn ykblsaflax vf/kdkjh ds le{k lkexzh gS vkSj mUgsa ;g Li"V gks tkrk gS fd ykblsalh ds ikl 'kL= jgus ls 'kkafr ,oa tulqj{kk [krjs esa iM+ ldrh gS] rks og ¼ykblsaflax vf/kdkjh½ mDr rF;ksa dks vfHkfyf[kr djus ds mijkar lh/ks vFkok fdlh tkWp vFkok ykblsalh dh lquokbZ dk volj fn;s fcuk ykblsal [email protected] dj ldrs gSa] ijarq mu ekeyksa esa ftuesa ykblsaflax vf/kdkjh dks ;g Li"V gS fd ykblsalh ds ikl 'kL= jgus ls tu'kkfUr ;k tulqj{kk [krjs esa iM+ ldrh gS vkSj lgh fLFkr dh tkudkjh gsrq tkWp yafcr gks rks ,slh tkWp ds nkSjku ykblsal fujLr ugha fd;k tk ldrk gSA

¼14½ vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ds varxZr fdlh dk;Zokgh dks izpfyr djus ls igys ftyk eftLVsª[email protected] izkf/kdkjh ds fy, ;g vko';d gS fd og vius le{k izLrqr i=koyh ij vuqKfIr/kkjh dh 'kL= vuqHkkx ls ewy i=koyh esa layXu 'kL= vkosnu] 'kiFki=] vk[;k ,oa lqlaxr nLrkostksa dk lw{e v/;;u dj ysa] rkfd ;g lqfuf'pr fd;k tk lds fd vuqKfIr/kkjh n~okjk xyr rF;ksa ds vk/kkj ij 'kL= vkosnu rks ugha fd;k x;k gS ;k fdlh 'krZ dk mYya?ku rks ugha fd;k x;k gS\

¼15½ mijksDr funsZ'kksa ds vfrfjDr vk;q/k vf/kfu;e&1959] vk;q/k fu;ekoyh&2016 le;≤ ij ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ,oa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; bykgkckn n~okjk ikfjr vkns'kksa] Hkkjr ljdkj ,oa jkT; ljdkj n~okjk le;≤ ij fuxZr funsZ'kksa dk Hkh lE;d vuqikyu fd;k tk, ,oa ;fn mDr dk vuqKfIr/kkjh n~okjk mYya?ku ik;k tkrk gS rks mlds 'kL+= vuqKfIr ds [email protected] dh fof/k lEer dk;Zokgh lqfuf'pr dh tk;A

3- bl laca/k esa ek0 U;k;ky; n~okjk fuEufyf[kr oknksa ¼1½ lh0ih0 lkgw cuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 1984 ,0MCyw0lh0 145]¼2½ dSyk'k ukFk cuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 1985 ,0MCyw0lh0 493] ¼3½ gjizlkn cuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 2005 ¼5½ ,0MCyw0lh0 4939 rFkk ¼4½ us'kuy dSfiVy VsfjVjh vkWQ Msygh cuke mes'k dqekj 2008 ¼3½ ,l0lh0lh0 fdzfeuy 490 esa ikfjr fu.kZ;ksa dk lE;d~ voyksdu djus ds mijkUr mesa fn;s x;s funsZ'kksa dk ikyu djrs gq, gh dksbZ fu.kZ; fy;k tk,A

4- d`i;k mDr funsZ'kksa dk dM+kbZ ls vuqikyu lqfuf'pr fd;k tk,A"

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the guidelines clearly indicated that the mere pendency of criminal cases was not to be taken as a ground for the cancellation of a fire arm licence. He has submitted that in the instant case even the trial was not being pursued by the prosecution properly and, therefore, the trial had lingered since a very long time. Further contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the cancelling authority had nowhere given a finding that the possession of the fire arm with the petitioner was endangering public peace and public safety and therefore, he submits that the orders impugned be set aside.

In reply the learned Standing Counsel, however, has submitted that the mere fact that there were criminal cases pending against the petitioner there had to be a presumption that the petitioner was not entitled for a fire arm licence.

Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, I am of the view that the guidelines as have been issued on 7.2.2018 and were before their issuance always known to the respondents should have been adhered to when the fire arm licence was cancelled by the cancelling authority. Definitely the mere pendency of criminal cases against the petitioner could not be taken as a ground for cancelling of the fire arm licence. There had to be a definite finding that the possession of the fire arm with the petitioner was endangering public peace and public safety. In the absence of such findings it could safely be presumed that the licencing authority had erred in cancelling the fire arm licence.

Under such circumstances, the writ petition is allowed. The order dated 9.11.2011 passed by the Commissioner, Meerut Division, Meerut and the order dated 31.7.2009 passed by the Additional District Magistrate, Ghaziabad are set aside and the writ petition is allowed.

Allowing of the writ petition does not mean that the firearm licence would automatically be restored. The petitioner may apply for a licence of a firearm afresh under the Arms Rules, 2016 along with a certified copy of this order. The licencing authority may issue a firearm licence within 30 days thereafter if the petitioner is found eligible for one.

Order Date :- 10.5.2018

Ashish Pd.