J&K High Court Orders Timely Decision on Arms License Renewal

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the licensing authority to decide on the renewal of petitioner Kuldeep Sharma’s arms license within two months, adhering strictly to the procedure under Chapter III of the Arms Act, 1959, and relevant rules.

The Court emphasized that even in the presence of multiple FIRs, including under the Arms Act, the authority is obligated to obtain a police verification report and conduct a proper enquiry before rejecting a renewal application.

Referring to Sections 13 and 14 of the Arms Act, the Court stressed the importance of procedural compliance and the need to record written reasons for denial.