MOHAMMED ASHARAF V. P. Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is holding a licence under the Arms Act to hold a weapon. When the term of the licence expired, though the petitioner preferred an application for renewal of the licence, the licence was not renewed. The petitioner then approached this Court in W. P. (C) No. 26827 of 2016. Ext.P1 is the judgment rendered by this Court in the said case. As per Ext.P1 judgment, this Court directed the respondent to consider the application preferred by the petitioner for renewal of the licence. Pursuant to Ext.P1 judgment, the application preferred by the petitioner has been though considered, the renewal was limited for the period upto 31/12/2016. The order was passed on 02/12/2016. In other words, the renewal has been granted only for a period of 28 days. The petitioner is aggrieved by Ext.P2 order.

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as also the learned Government Pleader.

(3.) It is alleged by the petitioner that the period of renewal of the licence was limited to 28 days since the petitioner has approached this Court alleging inaction on the part of the competent authority. The learned Government Pleader, on the other hand, justified the impugned order pointing out that the prayer of the petitioner was for renewal of the licence for a period of three years from 31/12/2013 and it is on account of the said reason that the licence was renewed upto 31/12/2016. Be that as it may, S.15 of the Arms Act which deals with the duration and renewal of the licence reads thus: