SANTOKH SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) VIDE this writ petition, a challenge has been made to the impugned orders dated 21.7.2010 and 23.2.2010 passed by the Commissioner, Faridkot Division, Faridkot and District Magistrate, Faridkot, whereby the Arms license No. 16023/DM/Faridkot belonging to the Petitioner has been cancelled.

(2.) ACCORDING to the averments made in this writ petition, the Petitioner got an Arms License No. 16023/DM Faridkot for a 12 bore gun on 12.3.1992. The said license was renewed from time to time and ultimately it was extended upto 9.1.2011. According to the Petitioner, he is a peace loving citizen and has never misused the weapon purchased by him on the basis of said Arms license. It is his further case that he being member Panchayat is actively participating in local politics and due to the political rivalry many persons are having strained relations with him and the impugned order Annexure P -8, canceling his license has been passed without assigning any cause and legal reasons. It has been further argued that even the order passed by the Commissioner, Faridkot Division, Faridkot, in an appeal filed by the Petitioner, is erroneous. A prayer has been made to set aside the aforesaid two orders.

(3.) ADMITTEDLY , FIR No. 62 dated 12.5.2005 under Sections 452, 336, 506, 34 IPC read with Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Police Station, City, Faridkot was registered against the Petitioner and he was sent to trial in this case. However, the Petitioner was acquitted in the aforesaid case on 18.5.2009 vide judgment Annexure P -2 passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Faridkot. It is also a matter of record that another FIR No. 11 dated 13.1.2009 under Sections 447, 440, 427, 506, 34 IPC has been registered at Police Station Kot -Kapura Sadar, District Faridkot, against the Petitioner and the said FIR is still pending and trial is in progress.