Court No. - 49
Case :- WRIT - C No. - 48059 of 2017 Petitioner :- Simmod Singh Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 2 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Barun Pratap Singh,Tarun Pratap Singh Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.
Hon'ble Siddhartha Varma,J.
A show cause notice was issued to the petitioner on 29.9.2007 on the basis of a report of Additional Superintendent of police (Rural) dated 21.8.2007 that the petitioner was an accused in Case Crime No. 19 of 2006, under Sections 354, 504 and 506 IPC and that he was being tried in that case. Thereafter, the licence to carry firearm of the petitioner was cancelled. The petitioner filed an Appeal on 15.5.2008 which was when dismissed on 15.6.2017, the instant writ petition was filed.
The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner even though was being tried in the Criminal Case it was yet not certain that the firearm, as had been alleged in the First Information Report, was actually used by the petitioner. The petitioner was out on bail but he had never misused the liberty of bail.
Learned counsel further submitted that mere involvement of a licencee of a firearm in a criminal case would not be a good ground for the Collector to cancel the licence under Section 17 (3) of the Arms Act, 1959. He submits that if a firearm licence had to be cancelled then a definite finding had to be arrived at that the possession of the firearm licence with the petitioner was dangerous for public peace and tranquility.
Learned counsel drew the attention of the Court to the Government Order dated 7.2.2018 in which under Clause 6 it had been specifically stated that the mere pendency of a criminal case would not necessarily require the State Government to cancel the firearm licence. Since learned counsel referred to the Government Order, the same is being reproduced here as under:-
“LihM iksLV@QSDl@bZ&esy la[;k% 1@2018@tu&102&N iq0&5&2018&408@17 izs"kd]%& Hkxoku Lo:i lfpo mRrj izns'k 'kkluA lsok eas] leLr ftyk eftLVªV] mRrj izns'kA x`g ¼iqfyl½ vuqHkkx&5 y[kuÅ fnukad% 07 Qjojh 2018 fo" k;%& O;fDrxr 'kLr ykblsalk s d s vuqKf Ir;k sa e s ifjorZu&ifjo/ kZu] muds fuyEcu ,o a izfrlagj.k d s l ac a/ k e s ] fn'kk fun sZ 'kA egksn;] vk;q/k vf/kfu;e] 1959 dh /kkjk &17 es vuqKfIr;ksa es ifjorZu&ifjo/kZu] muds fuyEcu ,oa izfrlagj.k ds laca/k es O;oLFkk nh x;h gSA mijksDr ds vfrfjDr ek0 loksZPp U;k;ky; ,oa ek0 mPp U;k;ky; n~okjk Hkh le;≤ ij rRlEcU/k es foLr`r vkns'k ikfjr fd;s x;s gSA x`g ¼iqfyl½ vuqHkkx&5 ds 'kklukns'k la[;k&271 vkj@N%&iq0&5&91&573@01] fnukad 25-02-1991 n~okjk vkXus;kL= ykblsalkas dk fuyEcu@fujLrhdj.k o 'kklukns'k la[;k&3017 vkj@N% &iq0&5&99] fnukad 15-05- 1999 n~okjk O;fDrxr 'kL= ykblaslkas dk nq:iz;ksx jksdus ds laca/k es funsZ'k fn;s x;s gSA
2- mDr ds n`f"Vxr eq>s ;g dgus dk funsZ'k gqvk gS fd O;fDRkxr 'kL= ykblslksa ds vuqKfIr;ksa es ifjorZu&ifjo/kZu] muds fuyEcu ,oa izfrlagj.k ds laca/k eas fuEukuqlkj dk;Zokgh lqfuf'pr fd;k tk;& ¼1½ ftyk eftLVªV@ykblsflx izkf/kdkjh fyf[kr vkns'k n~okjk vXus;kL= vuqKfIr dk lqfuf'pr dkykof/k ds fy, fuyfEcr dj ldrk gS ;k vuqKfIr dks izfrlagfjr dj ldrk gSA ¼2½ mijksDr fuyEcu@izfrlagj.k rHkh fd;k tk,xk tc ftyk eftLVªV@ykblsflx izkf/kdkjh dks ;g lek/kku gks tk, fd& d½ vuqKfIr/kkjh fdlh fof/k ds varxZr vk;q/k j[kus gsrq izfrf"k) gS ;k fod`rfpRr gS ;k fdUgh vU; dkj.kkas vf/kfu;e es vuqKfIr ds v;ksX; gS] vFkok ls vk;q/k [k½ tc ftyk eftLVªV@ykblsflx izkf/kdkjh yksd'kkafr dh lqj{kk ;k ^yksd{ks=^ ds fy, vuqKfIr dks fuyfEcr ;k izfrlagfjr djus ds ;qfDr;qDr vk/kkj ikrk gS] vko';d le>rk gS vFkok x½ tcfd ;g izek.k gks fd vuqKfIr xyr tkudkjh ds vk/kkj ij izkIr dh xbZ gS] vFkok ?k½ tcfd vuqKfIr dh fdlh 'krZ dk mYya?ku fd;k x;k gS] vFkok M+½ tcfd vuqKfIr /kkjd dks viuk 'kL= ifjnRr djus dk funsZ'k fn;k x;k gks vkSj mlds n~okjk 'kL= dk ifjnku u fd;k x;k gksA ¼3½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks vuar le; ds fy, 'kL= vuqKfIr fuyafcr vFkok izfrlagfjr ¼fujLr½ ugha djuh pkfg,A vuqKfIr ds fuyEcu vFkok izfrlagj.k dh vof/k lqfuf'pr gksuh pkfg,A ¼4½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh dks ykblasl fuyafcr vFkok fujLr djus dk vf/kdkj vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ¼3½ ds varxZr iznRr gS vkSj mDr dk;Zokgh djus ls iwoZ vuqKfIr/kkjh dks lqus tkus dk volj iznku fd;k tkuk vko';d gSA ¼5½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh ekeys ds rF;kas vkSj ifjfLFkfr;kas ij fopkj djrs gq, ;fn ;g mfpr ikrs gSa fd izdj.k eas rkRdkfyd izHkko ls vk;q/k vuqKfIr dk vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh n~okjk ifjnku fd;k tkuk vko';d gS rks ,slk djus dk vkns'k vfHkfyf[kr fd;k tk;sA ¼6½ ek= fdlh vkijkf/ kd ekeys dk yfEcr jguk 'kL= vuqKfIr fujLr@fuyf Ecr djus dk i;kZIr vk/kkj ugh a gSA ;gkW ;g Hkh Li"V djuk lehphu gS fd ek= ,d vkijkf/ kd izdj.k d s yf Ecr gk su s d s vk/ kkj ij Hkh fof'k"V ekeyk sa e sa vk;q/k vuqKfIr dk s fuy af cr@fujLr fd;k tk ldrk gS] ij arq vuqKfIr izkf/ kdkjh dk s , slk djus d s i;kZIr vk/kkj vius vkn s'k e sa vfHkfyf[kr fd; s tk;A ;g Hkh vko';d gS fd , sl s vk/kkj vf Hkfyf[kr djrs le; ;g Li"V mfYyf[kr fd;k tk; fd vuqKf Ir izkf/ kdkjh dk s lek/ kku gk s x;k fd iz'uxr vkijkf/ kd izdj.k dh izd`fr , slh gS fd og vketu vkSj lekt dh yk sd'kk af r ,o a yk sd +{ k se d s izfrd wy gS vkSj ;fn vuqKfIr/kkjh dk s vuqKfIr j[ku s nh xbZ rk s yk sd'kk af r o yk sd{k se ij izfrd wy izHkko iM +sx k A ¼7½ ;fn fdlh 'kL= vuqKfIr ds fuyacu ;k izfrlagj.k dh dk;Zokgh vkijkf/kd okn ds vk/kkj ij dh xbZ gSa rks ;fn mDr vkijkf/kd vfHk;ksx] nks"keqfDr eas ifjofrrZ gks tkrk gSa rks 'kL= fuyEcu@fujL=hdj.k ds vkns'k dk vkSfpR; Hkh lekIr gks tkrk gS] ijarq ;fn mDr vfHk;skx jkT; n~okjk vihy ;ksX; ik;k tk, ,oa mDr izdj.k dh vihy dh tk, rks jkT; dks mDr nks"keqfDr ds vkns'k dh vihy ds fu.kZ; rd vuqKfIr/kkjh dh 'kL= vuqKfIr fuyafcr@izfrlagfjr jg ldrh gSA vr% ,sls izdj.k tgkW ftyk eftLVsªV ds le{k nks"keqfDr ds vfHkdFku n~okjk vius 'kL= vuqKfIr fuyacu@fujL=hdj.k dh dk;Zokgh dks vikLr djus dh izkFkZuk dh tk,] ogkW ftyk eftLVsªV ;g tkudkjh djuk lqfuf'pr djasxs fd izdj.k eas dkbZs jkT; vihy ;kfs tr@izLrkfor rks ugha dh xbZ gSa\ rFkk mlds mijkUr gh fdlh fu.kZ; ij igqpsaxsA ¼8½ tgkW ij vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh n~okjk ;g lek/kku fd;k tk jgk gS fd vuqKfIr/kkjh dk d`R; yksd'kkafr vkSj yksd{kse ds izfrdwy gS rks bldk rkRi;Z dkuwu O;oLFkk fcxM+us dh lkekU; ifjfLFkfr;kas ls ugha le>k tk,xk] vfirq yksd'kkafr vkSj yksd{kse izHkkfor gksuk rFkk lekt ij O;kid vlj ls rkRif;Zr gSA ¼9½ 'kL= fujL=hdj.k dh dk;Zokgh yfEcr jgus vFkok dksbZ vkijkf/kd fopkj.k yfEcr jgus ds nkSjkuvuqKfIr/kkjh 'kL= j[kus ds fy, vf/kdkj Lo:i ekWx ugha dj ldrk gSa D;kasfd 'kL= vuqKfIr ,d vf/kdkj ugha ek= ,d lqfo/kk gSA ¼10½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh@ftyk eftLVsªV vius rkfRod lek/kku ds fy, iqfyl] vfHk;kstu ,oa vU; ,tsafl;kas ls vk[;k vkgwr dj ldrk gSA blds lkFk gh ftyk eftLVsªV n~okjk izdj.k ls lacaf/kr lHkh lqlaxr vfHkys[k ij fopkj djus rFkk vuqKfIr/kkjh dh ikfjokfjd i`"BHkwfe] mlds iwoZ vkijkf/kd d`R; vkSj mldk vkijkf/kd bfrgkl dks fopkj eas ysus ds mijkar gh leqfpr vkns'k ikfjr fd;k tk;A ¼11½ vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh@ftyk eftLVsªV vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ds mica/kkas ds vra xZr ;g lek/kku gkus s ij fd dkbZs vuqKfIr/kkjh fdlh xaHkhj vijk/k eas lfEefyr gkus ]s nk"s kfl) gkus s ;k fdlh vU;
vkuq'kkafxd dkj.k] ftls oks rkfRod :i ls mfpr ikrk gks] ds vk/kkj ij vuqKfIrdkjh dks vuqKfIr /kkj.k djus ds fy, v;ksX; O;fDr dh Js.kh eas ldrk gSA ikrk gS rks og 'kL= vuqKfIr dks fuyafcr@izfrlagfjr dj ¼12½ vXus;kL=ksa ds ykblasl lqj{kk dh n`f"V ls Lohd`r fd;s tkrs gSaA budk iz;ksx 'kknh&fookg vFkok lkoZtfud Lfkkukas ij izn'kZu ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg,A ,slk fd;s tkus ls turk eas Hk; dk okrkoj.k O;kIr gkrs k gSA tks O;fDr 'kL=ksa dk iz;ksx izn'kZu gsrq vFkok turk eas Hk; O;kIr djrs gq, ik, tk,W] muds 'kL= ykblsal dh 'krZ la[;k 5 dk mYya?ku djus ds vkjksi eas ,oa 'kL= vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ¼3½ ¼[k½] ¼?k½] ¼M½+ ds v/khu rRdky fujLr djrs gq, fof/kd dk;Zokgh dh tk ldrh gSA ¼13½ ;fn ykblsaflax vf/kdkjh ds le{k lkexzh gS vkSj mUgsa ;g Li"V gks tkrk gS fd ykblaslh ds ikl 'kL= jgus ls 'kkafr ,oa tulqj{kk [krjs eas iM+ ldrh gS] rks og ¼ykblsaflax vf/kdkjh½ mDr rF;ksa dks vfHkfyf[kr djus ds mijkar lh/ks vFkok fdlh tkWp vFkok ykblsalh dh lquokbZ dk volj fn;s fcuk ykblasl fuyfEcr@fujLr dj ldrs gSa] ijarq mu ekeykas eas ftueas ykblasflax vf/kdkjh dks ;g Li"V gS fd ykblaslh ds ikl 'kL= jgus ls tu'kkfUr ;k tulqj{kk [krjs eas iM+ ldrh gS vkSj lgh fLFkr dh tkudkjh gsrq tkWp yfa cr gks rks ,slh tkWp ds nkSjku ykblasl fujLr ugha fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼14½ vk;q/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 17 ds varxZr fdlh dk;Zokgh dks izpfyr djus ls igys ftyk eftLVsªV@vuqKfIr izkf/kdkjh ds fy, ;g vko';d gS fd og vius le{k izLrqr i=koyh ijvuqKfIr/kkjh dh 'kL= vuqHkkx ls ewy i=koyh eas lyXua 'kL= vkons u] 'kiFki=] vk[;k ,oa lqlaxr nLrkostkas dk l{ew v/;;u dj y]sa rkfd ;g lqfuf'pr fd;k tk lds fd vuqKfIr/kkjh n~okjk xyr rF;ksa ds vk/kkj ij 'kL= vkosnu rks ugha fd;k x;k gS ;k fdlh 'krZ dk mYya?ku rks ugha fd;k x;k gS\ ¼15½ mijksDr funsZ'kkas ds vfrfjDr vk;q/k vf/kfu;e&1959] vk;q/k fu;ekoyh&2016 le;≤ ij ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ,oa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; bykgkckn n~okjk ikfjr vkns'kksa] Hkkjr ljdkj ,oa jkT; ljdkj n~okjk le;≤ ij fuxZr funsZ'kkas dk Hkh lE;d vuqikyu fd;k tk, ,oa ;fn mDr dk vuqKfIr/kkjh n~okjk mYya?ku ik;k tkrk gS rks mlds 'kL+= vuqKfIr ds fuyacu@fujLrhdj.k dh fof/k lEer dk;Zokgh lqfuf'pr dh tk;A
3- bl laca/k eas ek0 U;k;ky; n~okjk fuEufyf[kr oknkas ¼1½ lh0ih0 lkgw cuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 1984 ,0MCyw0lh0 145]¼2½ dSyk'k ukFk cuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 1985 ,0MCyw0lh0 493] ¼3½ gjizlkncuke mRrj izns'k jkT; 2005 ¼5½ ,0MCyw0lh0 4939 rFkk ¼4½ us'kuy dSfiVy VsfjVjh vkWQ Msygh cuke mes'k dqekj 2008 ¼3½ ,l0lh0lh0 fdzfeuy 490 eas ikfjr fu.kZ;ksa dk lE;d~ voyksdu djus ds mijkUr meas dksbZ fu.kZ; fy;k tk,A fn;s x;s funsZ'kkas dk ikyu djrs gq, gh
4- d`i;k mDr funsZ'kkas dk dM+kbZ ls vuqikyu lqfuf'pr fd;k tk,A”
Learned counsel relied upon 2017 (98) ACC 48
Ram Charan vs. State of U.P. and Others and specifically read out paragraphs 20 to 24 and, therefore, the same are being reproduced here as under:-
“20. A perusal of the impugned order dated 4.2.2009 would show that the licence of the petitioner has been cancelled only on the ground of pendency of a solitary criminal case mentioned in the said order. It is no more res integra that mere pendency of a criminal case or apprehension of abuse of arms is not a sufficient ground for passing of an order of suspension or revocation of licence under Section 17 of the Act.
21. The firearm licence of the petitioner could not have been cancelled in "public interest" as has been done in the present case. In view of the settled legal position, a finding on the question of disturbance of law and order has to proceed before the firearm licence is cancelled under section 17(3)(b) of the Act.
22. No incident of breach of security of the public peace or public safety at the behest of the petitioner has been pointed out. The petitioner has no criminal history. The police report on the basis of which the proceedings were initiated against the petitioner does not indicate that the petitioner had utilized the firearm during the said occurrence. There is no averment in the FIR or in the counter affidavit that the gun possessed by the petitioner was used by the petitioner. There must be some positive incident in which the petitioner participated and used his gun which led to the breach of public peace and public safety. There is nothing on record to establish that the petitioner was involved in any act resulting in disturbance to public peace or public safety.
23. Moreover, in the case in hand, the petitioner, after the passing of the impugned order dated 04.02.2009, was acquitted in the criminal case lodged against him and, therefore, there was nothing adverse against the petitioner at the time the appeal preferred by the petitioner was decided by the respondent no. 3. The reason for cancelling the firearm licence mentioned in the impugned order dated 04.02.2009 had been wiped out and, as such, the Commissioner could not have upheld the order dated 04.02.2009 unless there was some fresh material against the petitioner on the said date. The respondent no. 3 has committed a grave error in not considering the facts in correct perspective and has failed to appreciate the grounds mentioned in sub section (3) of Section 17 of the Act regarding revocation or suspension of the licence. The order passed by respondent no. 3 cannot be sustained.
24. In view of the settled legal position mentioned above, the writ petition is allowed. The order dated 04.02.2009 passed by the District Magistrate, Kaushambi and the order dated 30.11.2013 passed by the Commissioner, Allahabad Mandal, Allahabad are hereby set aside. ”
Learned counsel still further relied upon 2015 (6) AWC 5944 (Surya Narain Mishra vs. State of U.P. and others) in which it has been held that public peace and public safety did not meant the ordinary disturbance of law and order but what was meant by disturbance of public peace and public safety was that public peace and tranquility in general was being jeopardized. Since the learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon paragraph 10 of the judgement, the same is being reproduced here as under:-
"In Thakur Prasad Vs. State of U.P. and others reported in [2013 (31) LCD 1460], this court propounded that "Public Peace" or "Public Safety" do not mean ordinary disturbance of law and order, but the public safety means safety of the public at large and not safety of few persons only. Relevant paras 9, 10 and 11 of the said case read as under:
"9. Further, while passing the impugned order also the licensing authority has not given any adequate finding that if petitioner holds the arms license then the same shall be against the public peace or public safety.
10. "Public peace" or "public safety" do not mean ordinary disturbance of law and order public safety means safety of the public at large and not safety of few persons only and before passing of the order of cancellation of arm license as per Section 17(3) of the Act the Licensing Authority is under an obligation to apply his mind to the question as to whether there was eminent danger to public peace and safety involved in the case in view of the judgment given by this Court in the case of Ram Murli Madhukar Vs. District Magistrate, Sitapur [1998(16) LCD 905], wherein it has been held that license can not be suspended or revoked on the ground of public interest (Jan-hit) merely on the registration of an F.I.R. and pending of a criminal case.
11. Further , this Court in the case of Habib Vs. State of U.P., 2002 ACC 783, held as under:-
"The question as to whether mere Involvement in a criminal case or pendency of a criminal case can be a ground for revocation of the licence under Arms Act, has been dealt with by a Division Bench of this Court in Sheo Prasad Misra Vs. District Magistrate, Basti and Ors,. 1978 AWC 122, wherein the Division Bench relying upon the earlier decision in Masi Uddin v. Commissioner, Allahabad, 1972 ALJ 573, found that mere involvement in criminal case cannot, in any way, affect the public security or public interest and the order cancelling or revoking the licence of fire arm has been set aside. The present impugned orders also suffer from the same infirmity as was pointed out by the Division Bench in the above-mentioned cases. I am in full agreement with the view taken by the Division Bench that these orders cannot be sustained and deserve to be quashed and are hereby quashed.
There is yet another reason that during the pendency of the present writ petition, the petitioner has been acquitted from the aforesaid criminal case and at present there is neither any case pending, nor any conviction has been attributed to the petitioner, as is evident from Annexure SA-I and II to the supplementary- affidavit filed by the petitioner. In this view of the matter, the petitioner is entitled to have the fire- arm licence. It is submitted by petitioner's counsel that the petitioner has been acquitted of the charges."
Learned Standing Counsel, in reply, however, submitted that since the petitioner was involved in the Case Crime No. 19 of 2006 under Sections 354, 504 and 506 IPC, it was in the fitness of things that he be deprived of his firearm licence.
Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, I am of the definite view that mere involvement of a person in a criminal case would not be a ground for the cancellation of his firearm licence. A definite finding ought to have been there that the possession of the firearm licence would be dangerous for public peace and tranquility. What is more, the possession of firearm is at times also essential to protect one's own life.
Under such circumstances, the order impugned dated 31.12.2007 passed by the Additional District Magistrate (Rural), Agra, cannot be sustained and, thus, the same is being quashed.
The writ petition is allowed.
However, the allowing of the writ petition would not mean that the petitioner's licence would automatically get restored. The firearm licence would be granted to the petitioner if he applies for one afresh and if he is found eligible under Arms Rules of 2016. The exercise of granting the licence would be completed within a period of one month from the production of a certified copy of this order.
Order Date :- 21.8.2019 praveen.
(Siddhartha Varma,J.)