JUDGMENT :

The petitioner, who is a Form III Arms Licensee under the Arms Act and the Rules, is before this Court seeking to direct the respondent to grant Arms licence for a period of three years from the date of issue of Ext.P2.

2. The petitioner held a gun bearing licence. In the year 2004, the petitioner submitted application seeking renewal of licence. The renewal was declined as a criminal case was pending against the petitioner. Subsequently, the petitioner was acquitted in the criminal case.

3. As the licence of the petitioner was not renewed, the petitioner approached this Court filing W.P.(C) No.2735/2019. In the said writ petition, the respondent submitted that since the application is of the year 2004, no records could be traced out in order to consider the application for renewal of licence. The said writ petition was disposed of by this Court granting liberty to the petitioner to submit fresh application for Arms licence.

4. The petitioner thereupon submitted application for issue of licence. The petitioner submits that the respondent granted him Ext.P2 licence as per proceedings dated 28.11.2019, with a validity of one year. According to the petitioner, the normal period