1. The Petitioner seeks to challenge the orders cancelling his fire atm licence, bearing no. 25/1990, for a rifle. The petitioner received a notice from the licensing authority, the Colfector, Nawadah, under his memo no. 233, dated 27.8.1996 (Annexure 3) asking to show cause why his licence be not cancelled for being accused in a criminal case being Nardiganj P.S. Case No. 56/1996, dated 20.7.1996 for alleged offences punishable under sections 147, 148, 149, 364, 302, 120 and 109 of the Penal Code and Section 27 of the Arms Act and Section 3(2) of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Attrocities) Act. It appears that the petitioner did not make any response to this notice and he was then given another notice under memo no. 311, dated 19.9.1996.

2. In response to the notices, the petitioner filed a show cause. However, the Collector by his order dated 15.11.1996 (Annexure 2) found the show cause unsatisfactory and cancelled the petitioners arms licence. The order passed by the Collector is quite brief and it does not state anything beyond the fact that the petitioner was an accused in the aforesaid case and the show cause filed by him in response to the not