Patna High Court
Ram Pravesh PuriversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- ANIL KUMAR SINHA
Holding
The Court directed the District Magistrate to decide the petitioner’s arms licence application within two months, thereby disposing of the writ petition.
Summary
The petitioner, Ram Pravesh Puri, sought to obtain an arms licence for a DBBL gun originally held by his deceased father, invoking Rule 25 of the Arms Rules which allows transfer to legal heirs. After filing an application in 2022, the Licensing Authority failed to act despite multiple representations. The State argued that the Licensing Authority should be compelled to decide the application within a reasonable time. The Court, after hearing both sides, directed the District Magistrate of West Champaran to render a final decision on the licence application within two months, in accordance with law. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of with the said direction.
Issues considered
- Whether the Licensing Authority’s inaction violates the petitioner’s right to obtain an arms licence under Rule 25 of the Arms Rules
- Whether the Court can direct the District Magistrate to decide the pending licence application within a specified time
Subjects
- Arms licence
- Legal heirs
- Administrative delay
- Writ jurisdiction
- District Magistrate
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.16378 of 2025
======================================================
Ram Pravesh Puri Son of Late Radhe Shyam Puri, resident of Village-
Mainpur, P.S.-Gopalpur, District-West Champaran.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Home Department, Govt.
of Bihar, Patna.
2. The District Magistrate, West Champaran at Bettiah, District-West
Champaran.
3. The Superintendent of Police, West Champaran at Bettiah, District-West
Champaran.
4. The District Arms Magistrate, West Champaran at Bettiah, District-West
Champaran.
5. The Station House Officer, Gopalpur Police Station, District-West
Champaran.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Raju Giri, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Advocate
Mr. Harsh Raj, Advocate
Mr. Chetan Anand, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Pleader (17)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA
ORAL ORDER
2 16-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties concerned.
2. The father of the petitioner was holding an arms
license of a DBBL gun bearing License No. 45507. The
petitioner's father died on 12.07.2021. Thereafter, the petitioner
filed an application in the year 2022 before the Licensing
Authority for grant of license in favour of the legal heirs, in
terms of Rule 25 of the Arms Rules. Several representations
have been filed by the petitioner for disposal of his application
Patna High Court CWJC No.16378 of 2025(2) dt.16-02-2026
2/2
for grant of license; however, no action has been taken by the
Licensing Authority in this regard.
3. Learned counsel for the State submits that the
Licensing Authority may be directed to take a final decision on
the petitioner’s application within a reasonable time frame.
4. Considering the submissions made by the parties
and the nature of the dispute, the District Magistrate, West
Champaran, Bettiah, is directed to take a final decision, in
accordance with law, on the petitioner’s application within a
period of two months from today.
5. Accordingly, with the aforesaid observation and
direction, the present writ application stands disposed of.
(Anil Kumar Sinha, J)
Siwani/-
U
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