Allahabad High Court

BHAGAT SHAKTI SAMRAT SINGH SONDHversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided: 29 September 2026
Bench: SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY

Holding

The court held that the competent authority must consider the petitioner's firearm licence application on the basis of a fresh police report and decide it expeditiously within the period prescribed by the Arms Act, 1959, if no legal impediment exists.

Summary

The petitioner, Bhagat Shakti Samrat Singh Sondh, filed a writ petition seeking expedited consideration of his application for a firearm licence filed on 15 April 2025. 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 and to decide it expeditiously, preferably within the time frame prescribed under the Arms Act, 1959, provided there is no legal impediment. No substantive order on the grant of the licence was made. The writ petition was disposed of with the said direction.

Issues considered

What procedural steps must the competent authority follow to consider a firearm licence application under the Arms Act, 1959?
Whether the petitioner is entitled to an expedited decision on his licence application.

Legislation cited

Arms Act, 1959

Subjects

firearm licence
Arms Act 1959
expedited decision
writ petition
competent authority
police report

Judgment

                                             HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                                                            WRIT - C No. - 39605 of 2026

                                    Bhagat Shakti Samrat Singh Sondh
                                                                                               .....Petitioner(s)
                                                                      Versus

                                    State of U.P. and Another
                                                                                             .....Respondent(s)

                                    Counsel for Petitioner(s)            :   Mukul Yadav, Rajesh Yadav
                                    Counsel for Respondent(s)            :   C.S.C.

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

                                    1. Heard Sri Mukul Yadav, 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 15.04.2025 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 30, 2026
                                    AK




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

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