1. In this case the petitioner Maharaj Kumar Sudhansu Kanta Acharyya has moved this Court for a writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the proceedings taken against the petitioner by the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi for cancellation of arms licences under the provisions of Sec.18, Arms Act (Act 11 of 1878).

2. From the affidavit of the petitioner it appears that on 30-1-1953 the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi sent the following notice :

"Whereas at the time when a dacoity was committed at 10 P. M. on 11-11-1952 in the house of one Suresh Chandra Chakravarty, on the Kanke Road, Ranchi, which is close to your residence the Sunrise you were in possession of eleven fire-arms, but you did not make a show of them though there were cries and alarms raised by the victims and that it took place in the early hours of night when you and your family members and servants were not asleep and a torch was flashed at the place of occurrence from the upper storey of your residence occupied by you personally. That you are very friendly with one H. N. Aikat Jigga of Circular Road, Ranchi, who has been suspected in a burglary case vide Kotwali P. S. Case no. 28 (11) under Sec. 457/380, I. P.