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NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-GWL:24535

1 WP-33062-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH

AT GWALIOR BEFORE

HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE MILIND RAMESH PHADKE th ON THE 13 OF AUGUST, 2026

WRIT PETITION No. 33062 of 2026 JANDEL SINGH RAVAT

Versus THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS

Appearance:

Shri Lokendra Sharivastava - Advocate for the petitioner.

Smt. Monica Mishra - Govt. Advocate for the State.

ORDER

This petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been filed by the petitioner seeking following reliefs:-

"7.1 यह (cid:3)क यािचकाकता(cid:9) माननीय (cid:13)यायालय से (cid:17)ाथन(cid:9) ा

करता ह(cid:20) (cid:3)क यािचकाकता(cid:9) क(cid:21) ओर से (cid:17)(cid:23)तुत यािचका (cid:23)वीकार कर, रेसपोड(cid:29)ट (cid:31). 2 (cid:33)ारा पा(cid:34)रत आदेश (cid:3)दनांक 13.04.2026 को िनर(cid:23)त कर, यािचकाकता(cid:9) का लायस(cid:29)स बहाल (cid:3)कये जाने हेतु रेसपोड(cid:29)ट (cid:31). 2

को िनद(cid:41)िशत करने क(cid:21) कृपा क(cid:21) जावे।

7.3 यह (cid:3)क उ(cid:45) सहायता के अलावा माननीय (cid:13)यायालय जो

भी उिचत सहायता उ(cid:45) (cid:17)करण क(cid:21) प(cid:34)र(cid:49)(cid:23)थितय(cid:50) को देखते हुए यािचकाकता(cid:9) के प(cid:53) म(cid:29) (cid:3)दलाया जाना उिचत समझे, (cid:3)दलाये जाने

का आदेश पा(cid:34)रत करने क(cid:21) कृपा कर(cid:29)।"

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is

Signature Not Verified Signed by: PAWAN KUMAR Signing time: 8/13/2026

6:53:05 PM

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-GWL:24535

2 WP-33062-2026 aggrieved by the order dated 13.04.2026 passed by respondent No.2/Collector, District Datia, whereby the petitioner's arms licence has been suspended/cancelled on the basis of certain criminal cases registered against him. Learned counsel further submits that the impugned order has been passed without proper application of mind and without recording the requisite satisfaction contemplated under Section 17(3) of the Arms Act, 1959. It is further submitted that the authority has proceeded merely on the basis of pendency/registration of criminal cases and an apprehension of possible misuse of the licensed firearm, without recording any specific finding as to how continuation of the arms licence would be prejudicial to public peace or public safety. Learned counsel further submits that in two of the criminal cases relied upon by the respondents, there is no use of the firearm and apart from that there is no material demonstrating that the licensed firearm was ever used or misused by the petitioner or that the petitioner, after obtaining the licence, had indulged in any act endangering public peace or public safety. Reliance is placed on the order dated 07.07.2026 passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.25373 of 2026 (Padam

Chand Gupta and Others Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh and Others).

Per contra, learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents/State supports the impugned order.

Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

Though under Section 18 of the Arms Act, 1959, there is a provision for appeal against the impugned order, since the order passed by the

Signature Not Verified Signed by: PAWAN KUMAR Signing time: 8/13/2026

6:53:05 PM

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-GWL:24535

3 WP-33062-2026 Collector is alleged to have been passed in total derogation of the provisions of Section 17 of the Arms Act, 1959, and appears to have been passed without affording the petitioner an effective opportunity of hearing, thereby raising an issue of violation of the principles of natural justice, this Court deems it appropriate to entertain the present petition notwithstanding the availability of an alternative remedy of appeal under Section 18 of the Arms

Act, 1959.

The controversy involved in the present petition is substantially covered by the order dated 07.07.2026 passed by this Court in Padam Chand

Gupta and Others (supra).

In the aforesaid order, while considering the scope of Section 17(3)(b)

of the Arms Act, 1959, this Court, after considering the earl