Allahabad High Court

RITIK CHAUDHARYversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 2 OTHERS

Decided: 22 September 2026
Bench: SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY

Holding

The Court ordered the competent authority to consider and decide the firearm licence application expeditiously, based on a fresh police report, within the period prescribed under the Arms Act, 1959, if no legal impediment exists.

Summary

Petitioner Ritik Chaudhary filed a writ petition seeking expedited consideration of his application for a firearm licence dated 06-02-2026. The petitioner alleged delay by the competent authority in processing the licence. The Court, without delving into the merits of the licence application, directed the competent authority to reconsider the petitioner's application based on a fresh police report. The direction emphasized that the decision should be made expeditiously, preferably within the time frame prescribed under the Arms Act, 1959, provided there is no legal impediment. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of with the said directive.

Issues considered

Whether the High Court can direct the competent authority to expedite the consideration of a firearm licence application?

Legislation cited

Arms Act, 1959

Subjects

firearm licence
expeditious disposal
writ petition
Arms Act
competent authority

Judgment

                                             HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                                                            WRIT - C No. - 38297 of 2026

                                    Ritik Chaudhary
                                                                                                 .....Petitioner(s)
                                                                      Versus

                                    State Of U.P. And 2 Others
                                                                                               .....Respondent(s)

                                    Counsel for Petitioner(s)                  :     Manoj Kumar Gautam
                                    Counsel for Respondent(s)                  :     C.S.C.

                                    Court No. - 36
                                               HON'BLE SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY, J.

                                    1. Heard Sri Manoj Kumar Gautam, learned counsel for petitioner and Sri

                                    Shyam Singh, learned Standing Counsel for State-Respondents.


                                    2. Petitioner has approached this Court to expedite the consideration of
                                    his application dated 06.02.2026 for grant of firearm licence.


                                    3. In view of above, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the

                                    issue and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this writ

                                    petition is disposed of finally with a direction to respondent-Competent

                                    Authority to consider and decide petitioner’s application for grant of

                                    firearm licence on basis of a fresh police report in accordance with law

                                    expeditiously, preferably within the period prescribed under Arms Act,

                                    1959, if there is no legal impediment.


                                                                                   (Saurabh Shyam Shamshery,J.)
                                    September 23, 2026
                                    AK




Digitally signed by :-
AWADESH KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

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