ORDER (ORAL)

Crl.M.A. 4788/2019 (for recalling of order dated 22.11.2018), Crl.M.A. 4789/2019 (stay) and Crl.M.A. 4790/2019 (exemption)

1. The duty of consideration of applications for licence for possession of arms and ammunition under the Arms Act, 1959, read with rules framed there under, is the domain of police department, the task having been assigned during the relevant period to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP/licensing), he being assisted by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP/licensing).

2. It is stated that one Mahender Gupta (first accused) had been granted arms license, its validity, however, being restricted to territory of Delhi only. He statedly was desirous of getting it extended for “All India” use. The arms license of Mahender Gupta was valid upto 04.04.2005. He approached the office of DCP/ licensing with a request for change of residential address. During scrutiny of the said application, it was noticed that the endorsement on the said arms license about extension of its area validity to “All India”, purportedly under the signatures of Mr. S.K. Pant, ACP/licensing, was forged. There was no corresponding record in the said office pertaining to the said entry d