The failure to observe principles of natural justice in the renewal process of an arms license warrants quashing of the refusal and a fresh consideration of the application.

1. This petition is filed by the petitioner for an appropriate writ, order or direction, quashing and setting aside an order passed by District Magistrate, Bhavnagar, respondent No. 2 herein on December 31, 1987 (Annexure - C to the petition) and confirmed by the State Government on 5th December, 1988 (Annexure - E to the petition) by directing the authorities to renew the licence of the petitioner bearing No. 189 of 1977.

2. The case of the petitioner was that he was President of Bhavnagar Diamond Merchants' Association and was a man of repute. He was holding Arms Licence bearing No. 189 of 1977 since 1977 for his personal use. In that capacity, he owned and possessed a weapon viz. .32 bore revolver. The licence was renewed from time to time till January 12, 1988.

3. It was the case of the petitioner that when he was travelling in S.T. Bus near Anand, his bag was stolen, wherein the above weapon was kept by him. Immediately, he lodged a complaint which was registered as Complaint No. 5287. The arm, however, could not be traced. Meanwhile, period of licence was about to expire. He, therefore, made an application on December 4, 1987 for renewal of licence, but the same was rejected by the second respondent vide his order dt. December 31, 1987. Being aggrieved by the said order, petitioner preferred an appeal before the respondent No. 1 which was also dismissed by the State Government and the said order is under challenge in this petition. The petition was admitted. Today, it is called out for final hearing.

4. I have heard Mr. T. H. Sompura, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms. S. A. Talati, learned Assistant Government Pleader for the respondents.

5. Mr. Sompura contended that there is an error of law by the authorities in not affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner before the impugned decision was taken. He submitted that there is distinction between grant of licence and renewal of licence. Renewal of licence is not a Ministerial act and when an application for renewal of licence was to be rejected, it was incumbent upon the authority to comply with the principles of natural justice.

6. He also submitted that when the arm was stolen and that fact was duly brought to the notice of Police Authorities by filing a complaint, it was obligatory on the part of the respondents to consider the said fact. He submitted that nowhere in the Act, it is provided that a person cannot hold more than one arm. On the contrary, S. 3 of the Arms Act, 1959 provides that a person cannot hold more than three arms under one licence, meaning thereby that a person can hold more than one arm under one licence.

7. He also submitted that the second respondent had practically acted under dictation inasmuch he merely rejected the application on the basis of a letter dt. June 12, 1985 written by the Home Department of the Government of India a reference of which was made in the impugned order itself. A copy of the said letter was not supplied to the petitioner. The appellate authority has also committed an error of law in not giving copy thereof to the petitioner.

8. Further grievance of Mr. Sompura was that the appellate authority made certain observations while dismissing the appeal and confirming the order passed by the District Magistrate, inter alia, stating that the District Magistrate was right in observing that the petitioner had not taken due care and caution for his weapon and hence the conclusion arrived at by the District Magistrate could not be said to be improper or illegal. Mr. Sompura submitted that it was nowhere stated by the District Magistrate that the petitioner was careless or he was negligent, but the order