SURJEET SINGH Vs. STATE OF U P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Pursuant to this Court's order dated 4.4.2012, an affidavit has been filed by Sri Anil Kumar-III, District Magistrate, Allahabad stating that after receipt of order dated 4.4.2012 firearm licence has been granted to petitioner.

(2.) This Court is not concerned as to whether petitioner is granted firearm licence or not but real concern of the Court is why petitioner's application for grant of firearm licence, which was a statutory application under Section 13 of Arms Act, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as "Act") remained pending for the last more than a decade. The Court required explanation for this lethargy/inaction on the part of respondent no. 2.

(3.) In this regard no reason or explanation has been given in the affidavit. In para 6 and 7 of the affidavit, it is said that besides the work under Act, the District Magistrate is also required to perform duties of multifarious nature. Staff posted in Arms Section is insufficient to meet the work load. It is also said that from 2000 to 2010, the number of firearms licence pending is 29258. Interestingly enough, the figure does not show total number of applications filed in these years, and how many applications have been disposed of, The data constitute only one part, i.e. pending applications. It is however admitted that most of the applications are pending and have not been disposed. The figures of pendency of yearwise cases vis-a-vis different Police Stations of District Allahabad as enumerated by District Magistrate is as under: