IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.C. BHANU WRIT PETITION No. 19000 of 2005 Between: M. Sohalluddin ..... PETITIONER AND Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Rep. by its Under-Secretary, Sastri Bhavan, New Delhi and 3 others .....RESPONDENTS ORDER: Seeking a Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not granting import license to the petitioner to import rifle and ammunition required for renowned shooter as illegal and arbitrary, the present writ petition is filed. It is the case of the petitioner that he is a renowned rifle shooter and last year he participated in 46th and 47th National Shooting Championship Competitions and he is entitled to import any non-prohibited bore rifle and 15,000 rounds/cartridges. In the meanwhile the Government vide its notification in S.O.667(E) dated 12.09.1985 framed necessary rules in terms of Section 41 of the Arms Act, 1959 exempting various categories of persons from the operation of Sections 3 and 9 of the Act subject to certain conditions. On 23.08.2004 he submitted an application to the 3rd respondent for the import of 308 Win Krico make rifle and ammunition as per procedure, but the respondents have not passed any orders thereon. Further the 3rd respondent announced the schedule for National Shooting Championship Competition for the year 2005 from 18.10.2005 to 25.10.2005 and unless he possesses the imported weapon, he cannot participate in the said competition. Hence the writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Solicitor General for the Central Government. Admittedly, the petitioner made a representation on 23.08.2004 to the respondents and till now no decision has been passed by the respondents and appropriate decision has to be passed by the 1st respondent in accordance with rules. Therefore, without entering into the merits of the case, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition, directing the 1st respondent to take appropriate decision on the representation of the petitioner dated 23.08.2004 and pass necessary orders thereon, within a period of 4 (four) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ______________ K.C. BHANU,J Dated: 30.08.2005 Dsr Note: Issue CC in 3 days B/o Dsr