JUDGMENT :

J.J. Munir, J.

The petitioner's fire-arm licence has been cancelled by the District Magistrate of Kaushambi vide order dated 3.12.2008 in exercise of powers under Section 17 of the Arms Act. That order has been upheld in appeal by the Commissioner, Allahabad Division, Allahabad (now Prayagraj) by his order dated 1.7.2015. It is these orders depriving the petitioner of his fire-arms licence that he impugns through the present writ petition.

2. The petitioner was granted a fire-arm licence in the year 1997 bearing No. 9050, entitling him to hold a D.B.B.L. Gun. The licence was granted by the Licensing Authority under the Arms Act, 1959 in accordance with law. The petitioner purchased a D.B.B.L. bearing No. 94400486. It appears that acting on a report by the Police of Police Station Saini, District Kaushambi, recommending cancellation of the petitioner's fire-arms licence, Case No. 102/167 of 2007-08 was registered before the District Magistrate, Kaushambi. The petitioner was put to notice. At one stage of proceedings, the case proceeded ex parte but later on before orders could be passed, upon the petitioner's application dated 18.7.2007 the order to proceed ex parte was set