JUDGMENT

Both these petitioners approached this Court aggrieved by a phone call received from the S.H.O. concerned, calling upon the petitioners to surrender their arms in accord with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (produced at Ext.P2) in W.P.(C).No.12394/2026. This Court notice that the S.H.O. concerned (the 4^th respondent in both the cases) cannot mandate surrender of arms through a phone call. Ext.P2 guidelines requires deliberation by the competent Authority on an individual basis, a review and an assessment, whereafter an Order has to be passed calling upon the licence holders to surrender their arms. This Court has considered the issue recently in W.P.(C).No.11762/2026.

2. In the circumstances, it is clarified that the petitioners are not under any obligation to surrender their arms based on phone call by the 4^th respondent. The competent Authority in terms of Ext.P2 guidelines will pass necessary Orders, if the petitioners are require