Allahabad High Court
MAHESH SINGH VERMAversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 2 OTHERS
- Decided
- Bench
- VINOD DIWAKAR
Holding
The court held that the cancellation of the arms licence on the basis of mere FIR registration was not amenable to interference, and the petition was dismissed.
Summary
Mahesh Singh Verma, holder of arms licence No. 5567, challenged the cancellation of his licence by the District Magistrate, Etawah, which was based on the registration of three FIRs involving serious criminal allegations. The petitioner argued that mere registration of FIRs, without a finding of culpability, could not justify licence cancellation. The High Court examined the licensing authority's consideration of the nature and seriousness of the allegations and found that the authority had acted within its discretion. The Court held that at the stage of FIR registration, it would be premature to draw definitive conclusions about guilt, and the order of cancellation was self‑explanatory. Consequently, the petition seeking certiorari was dismissed as devoid of merit.
Issues considered
- Whether the registration of FIRs, without a conviction, is a sufficient ground for the cancellation of an arms licence.
Legislation cited
- Dowry Prohibition Act — s. 3, 4
- Indian Penal Code — s. 323, 420, 467, 468, 471, 498A, 504, 506
Subjects
- arms licence
- cancellation
- FIR
- certiorari
- licensing authority
- criminal allegations
- procedural fairness
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - C No. - 15369 of 2026
Mahesh Singh Verma
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
State Of U.P. And 2 Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Shivanand Mishra, Vijay Shankar Shukla
Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C.
Court No. - 37
HON'BLE VINOD DIWAKAR, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Counsel for the
State, and perused the record.
2. The instant petition has been preferred seeking direction in the nature of
certiorari to quash the impugned order dated 13.02.2026, passed by the
District Magistrate, Etawah in Case No. 26 of 2025 , whereby the petitioner's
arms license was rejected.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was a
licensee bearing Licence No. 5567 (covered N.P.B. Rifle No. AB97-4146).
The said licence has been cancelled pursuant to the registration of FIRs i.e.
(i) Case Crime No. 465/2009, under Sections 498A, 323, 506 I.P.C. and
Section 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, (ii) Case Crime No. 468/2009, under
Sections 323, 504, 506 I.P.C., and (iii) Case Crime No. 519 of 2009, under
Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 I.P.C., all the cases registered at P.S. Kotwali,
District Etawah. It is contended that mere registration of FIR cannot be the
sole ground for cancellation of an arms licence, particularly when the
culpability of the petitioner in the said case has not yet been established.
4. After hearing learned counsel for the petitioner and upon perusal of the
record, this Court finds that the licensing authority has taken into
consideration the nature of the allegations as well as the surrounding
circumstances while passing the order of cancellation.
5. The allegations made in the FIR are serious in nature. At this stage, it
would be premature to arrive at any definitive conclusion. Moreover, the
order passed by the District Magistrate is self-explanatory and needs no
WRIC No. 15369 of 2026
2
interference.
6. In view of the above, the present petition is devoid of merit and is,
accordingly, dismissed.
April 23, 2026
Shafique
(Vinod Diwakar,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
SAFIKUR RAHAMAN
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
Checking your session…