IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 11^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.100977 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SHRI. ASHOK S/O. RAMACHANDRA ANVEKAR, AGE. 71 YEARS, OCC. RTD. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, PRESENTLY ADVOCATE RES AT. PLOT NO. 112, CENTRAL EXCISE COLONY, GOKUL ROAD, HUBBALLI, DIST. DHARWAD-580030.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. GOURISHANKAR H.MOT, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.

2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND ADDL. DIST. MAGISTRATE HUBBALLI-DHARWAD CITY, HUBBALLI-580025.

3. POLICE INSPECTOR, Digitally signed by YASHAVANT GOKUL ROAD POLICE STATION, NARAYANKAR HUBBALLI-580030.

Location: HIGH …RESPONDENTS COURT OF (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, ADDL. GOVT. ADVOCATE)

KARNATAKA THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENT DATED: 12/01/2026 NO:CP/MAG-1/ARMS/188/2024 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 VIDE ANNEXURE-A, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. B) ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO. 3 TO AUTHORITY TO RETURN THE WEAPON, WHICH IS SEIZED AND TO ISSUE RENEWED LICENSE, TO THE PETITIONER VIDE ANNEXURE- F AND J IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. C) ISSUE SUCH OTHER WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTIONS AS THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS FIT AND PROPER UNDER THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AND ALLOW THIS WRIT PETITION, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer:

“a) ISSUE a writ in the nature of Certiorari to QUASH the impugned endorsement Dated: 12/01/2026 No:CP/MAG-1/ARMS/188/2024 passed by the respondent No.2 vide Annexure-A, in the interest of justice and equity.

b) ISSUE a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent No. 3 to authority to return the weapon, which is seized and to issue Renewed License, to the Petitioner vide Annexure- F and J in the interest of justice and equity.

c) ISSUE such other writ or order or directions as this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case and allow this writ petition, in the interest of justice and equity.”

2. The case of the petitioner is that, he is a retired Superintendent of Police and is presently practicing as an Advocate at Hubballi. During his service as police officer, he had come across many notorious criminals, communal goondas, murderers, terrorists, etc. Among these, many were arrested and many were convicted. Hence, the petitioner is having a threat of life for himself and his family members. The petitioner during his service as police officer had obtained the arms licence for weapon after inspection and training conducted in accordance with law i.e. on 31.03.2006. Later, after the retirement from police department in the year 2013, he shifted to Hubballi and is residing in his own house with his family members and his licence has been renewed from time to time. Petitioner transferred the arms licence from Additional District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner, Bidar to Hubballi and the last renewal was done in the year 2024. On 24.08.2024, the petitioner submitted an application to respondent No.2 seeking renewal of the licence for a period of 5 years for his weapon. On 06.05.2025, the respondent No.3 seized and deposited the weapon in Gokul Road Police Station and gave a report. On 20.08.2025, during the inquiry, the petitioner submitted his detailed statement and medical fitness certificate to show that he is physically fit in the process of renewal of the arms licence by the respondent No.3. The respondent No.2 has passed the order impugned before this Court on 12.01.2026. The respondent No.2 without considering the detailed statement