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Uttarakhand High Court
Rajesh Bhatt vs State Of Uttarakhand & Others on 6 April, 2026
Author: Pankaj Purohit
Bench: Pankaj Purohit
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WPMS No.270 of 2026
Rajesh Bhatt ..........Petitioner
Versus
State of Uttarakhand & others .....Respondents
Hon'ble Pankaj Purohit, J.
Mr. Anil K. Bisht, learned counsel for the petitioner.
2. Mr. Yogesh Pandey, learned Deputy Advocate General for
the State.
3. Mr. Manoj Kumar, learned CGSC for the Union of
India/respondent no.4.
4. This writ petition pertains to the controversy whereby the
petitioner was called upon to surrender his revolver licence
no. 4111/GII/HLD/2015 at the nearby Police Station along
with the revolver for the reason that the petitioner could not
obtain the Unique Identification Number (UIN) for the licence
and revolver retained by him.
5. It is contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that,
in view of Rules 15 & 16 of the Arms Rules, 2016, which came
into effect on 15.07.2016, the licensing authority is enjoined
with a duty, at the time of renewal of the licence, to provide a
Unique Identification Number (UIN) to the licence holder. It is
not a duty cast upon the petitioner to obtain that Unique
Identification Number (UIN); therefore, the petitioner is not at
fault at all, and rather the respondents should provide the
Unique Identification Number (UIN) to the petitioner for his
licence and the revolver retained by him.
6. A counter affidavit has been filed by the respondent-
State wherein it has been stated that, instead of renewal of
the earlier licence, the petitioner may apply for a new licence
and the same would be issued in his favour on the basis of
merits and after carrying out all necessary investigation into
the matter.
7. Since this Court is of the view that the fault lies on the
part of the respondents in not providing the Unique
Identification Number (UIN) to the petitioner at the time of
renewal of the licence, the petitioner cannot be directed to
apply afresh.
8. It is submitted by learned State Counsel that the Unique
Identification Number (UIN) is provided by respondent no. 4-
Union of India, and unless and until it is provided by the
Union of India, the petitioner's licence and revolver shall be
treated as illegal arms as per the notification dated
15.11.2022 issued by the Home Ministry.
9. In this view of the matter, this Court is of the opinion
that, instead of relegating the petitioner to apply for a fresh
licence, the respondents are directed to evolve a mechanism to
help the petitioner as to how the Unique Identification
Number may be allotted to the petitioner for his Licence No.
4111/GII/HLD/2015. The said exercise shall be carried out
by the respondents within a period of four weeks.
10. List on 08.05.2026.
11. In the meantime, the impugned notice dated 16.01.2026,
annexure-1 to the writ petition, issued by respondent no. 3
shall remain stayed.
(Pankaj Purohit, J.)
06.04.2026
AK
