P SRINIVASA REDDY Vs. GOVT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The two writ petitions are disposed of by a common order since the same G.O.Rt.No.1952 Home (Gen.C) Department, dated 30-7-1997, is questioned in both the writ petitions.

(2.) The petitioners are the residents of Rayalaseema region and licensees of fire arms. They acquired the weapons and obtained licences for the protection of their life and their property from the attacks of extremists and robbers and dacoits. The Government'suspended fire arm licences in Rayalaseema region and the districts of Guntur and Prakasam of Andhra area, for a period of6 months, initially in 1994. Separate G.Os. have been issued extending the period of suspension from time to time. G.O.RtNo.1824 Home (Gen.C) Dept., dated 9-8-1996 was issued suspending grant of new arm licences and existing arm licences from 1 -8-96 to 31 -7-97. Pursuant to the said G.O. the petitioners had deposited their weapons before the nearest police station (R3). The petitioners also applied for renewal of their licences to the licensing authorities, who are impleaded in these writ petitions. In view of the G.O. the licences were not renewed.

(3.) Challenging the G.O., the petitioners approached this Court in these writ petitions. However, pending the writ petitions, since the period mentioned in the G.O. expired, G.O.Rt.No. 1952 Home (Gen.C) Dept., dated 30-7-97 was issued extending the period from 1-8-97 to 31-7-98. The petitioners filed petitions for amendment of the prayer in the writ petitions and the petitions were allowed. Thereafter, the prayers were suitably amended. Thus, now the challenge in these writ petitions is against G.O.Rt.No.1952, Home (Gen.C) Dept., dated 30-7-1997.