The court directed the licensing authority to decide upon a pending arms license renewal application within a specified timeframe once the necessary police verification reports have been submitted.

The Court made the following:

ORDER:

The Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:-

“…Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondent no. 2 in not renewing the Arms License bearing No.172/Nandyal of the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the 2nd respondent to renew the Arms License No.172/Nandyal in favour of the petitioner for a period of five years from 01.09.2024 to 31.08.2029, based on the favourable police enquiry and verification report and pass….”

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader.

3. Sri N. Satyanarayana, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner’s representation for renewal of the armed license has been pending consideration for a long time.

4. Sri P. Ajay Babu, learned Assistant Government Pleader, on written instructions, submits that the Superintendent of Police has forwarded the necessary material to Respondent No. 2/District Collector for passing appropriate orders regarding the renewal of the armed license.

5. Considering the above facts and circumstances of the case, and upon recording the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to Respondent No. 2 to take appropriate steps and pass orders regarding renewal of Armed License No. 172/Nandyal for a period of five (5) years, i.e., from 01.09.2024 to 31.08.2029, in accordance with law, within a period of two (2) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed.