IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 23358 of 2009 Between: M.A.Nayeem Zakee, S/o Late Mohd. Abdul Raheem, 65 years, Occ: Business, R/o 5-8-323/1 to 5, Shalimar gardens, Nampally, Hyderabad. ..... PETITIONER AND 1. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Hyderabad and another. .....RESPONDENTS HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRI PETITION No.23358 of 2009 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondents in not renewing the petitioner’s Arms lincense bearing No.1057/Abid Road since 06.10.2006, as illegal and arbitrary and consequently sought for a direction to the respondents to renew the petitioner’s Arms lincense bearing No.1057/Abid Road. Brief facts of the case are that the petitioner was granted licence No.Hyd-W-51/13, on 06.10.1972, to purchase and possess a DBBL gun 12 Bore No.80 Jaffery. The period of license was for 3 years i.e., up to 05.10.1973 and the same was renewed from time to time. The petitioner was again accorded permission on 01.10.1990, to purchase and possess a revolver/pistol in addition to the DBBL gun as an additional weapon, but he could not purchase the same and further on the renewal i.e., on 28.09.1993, he was accorded permission to purchase and possess N.P. Bore Revolver and accordingly he purchased .22 N.P. Bore Revolver. Subsequently, the petitioner purchased one N.P.30.06 Bore S.B rifle No.21153 made in Austria from one Syed Liaquat Hussain, the holder of arms license vide No.79/Amberpet, and necessary entries were made in the renewal of his arms license. It is further stated that the arms license was renewed from time to time till 06.10.2006. Subsequently, in the year 2004, the 2nd respondent instructed the petitioner to deposit the arms held by him under the license in the authorized arms shop or police station in view of General Elections and accordingly, the petitioner deposited his arms with an authorized arms dealer. It is further stated that the petitioner made an application to the 1st respondent for renewal of his arms license on 21.12.2006 stating the reasons for delay, but no order has been passed so far. Hence the writ petition. Heard both sides. When an application is given by the petitioner for renewal of his Arms license, the 1st respondent shall pass an order either accepting it or rejecting it and it is not proper for the 1st respondent to keep the application pending for a period of about three years. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, I consider it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the 1st respondent to consider the application dated 21.12.2006 submitted by the petitioner and pass appropriate orders thereon, as expeditiously as possible. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. _____________________________ (GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA, J) 17-11-2009 Gsn.