GODHA SINGH JABRA SINGH Vs. DISTRICT MAGISTRATE FEROZEPORE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The applicant has moved this Court for an order of Mandamus, as he calls it, to quash the order passed by the District Magistrate of Ferozepore, dated 31-101953, cancelling the applicant's licence for a revolver.

(2.) According to the applicant, he is a peaceful citizen of the Union of India, being a resident of Gidderbaha, an elected member of the village Panchayat and belongs to no political party. He owns about a hundred "shumaons' of land and was granted a licence for a revolver in about 1947 and he claims that he has not been convicted of any offence under the Arms Act or any rules made thereunder. His licence was cancelled under S, 18, Arms Act and he assails that order on several grounds given in para 6 of his petition.

(3.) The State has filed an affidavit in reply according to which the petitioner was not granted a licence for a revolver after considering the merits of the case but he got illegal possession of a revolver, and as that was registered a licence was granted. The State has placed on the record a fist of cases in which the applicant was convicted and of cases in which he was suspected of various offences of theft and of house-breaking. The State have submitted that they cancelled the licence because of the bad record of the applicant and they have also placed on the record a report by the Police which shows what kind of man the applicant is. This is marked Ex. R B. and I am quoting it 'in extenso' :