MP HC quashes cancellation of arms licence, says FIR alone not ground to revoke permit

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh high court has quashed the cancellation of an arms licence, ruling that the mere registration of a criminal case cannot by itself justify revocation under the Arms Act.

Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke allowed a petition by Gwalior resident Anees Hussain and directed the licensing authority to reconsider the matter within four weeks of a fresh application.Hussain’s .315 bore gun licence had been cancelled by the district magistrate in February 2022 and the order was upheld by the divisional commissioner on appeal. Authorities had cited an FIR, including attempt to murder charges, but the court said Section 17(3) permits action only on limited grounds such as public safety, suppression of facts, breach of conditions or legal disqualification. It noted the FIR had already been quashed on May 11, 2023.