IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 25TH FEBRUARY 2010 / 6TH PHALGUNA 1931 WP(C).No. 2009 of 2010(A) ------------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------- SRI.V.VIJAYAN MENON, S/O. KRISHNAN NAIR, VILAMBATH HOUSE, PERUMPILLISSERY, CHERPU P.O., THRISSUR. BY MR.GOVIND K.BHARATHAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE. MR.C.P.KUNJHIKANNAN, ADVOCATE. MR.S.K.MADHU, ADVOCATE. RESPONDENTS: ------------------ 1. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, COLLECTORATE, AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR-3. 2. THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, THRISSUR. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, THRISSUR. 4. THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHERPU POLICE STATION, CHERPU POST, THRISSUR-680 581. BY MR.P. NARAYANAN, GOVERNMENT PLEADER. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25/02/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. --------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.2009 OF 2010 --------------------------------------- Dated this the 25th day of February, 2010. J U D G M E N T The petitioner was working in Malabar Cements Ltd., Palakkad as Deputy General Manager (Marketing) from 1983 to 1998 and left the Company in January 1998. Thereafter, he was given an assignment as Marketing Adviser by the M.D of Malabar Cements Ltd. and he is now working in that capacity. For his personal safety, he is in possession of a .32 Revolver No.505213 and 12 Bore DBBL Gun with the Arm Licence No.1123/TSR. It is stated that the petitioner who is a senior citizen and he is holding the licence for the last 24 years has never given cause to any complaint in respect of the licence so far. He is also a life time member of the Palakkad Rifle Association affiliated to the National Rifle Association of India. 2. The petitioner mainly seeks for a direction to the 2nd respondent to immediately renew the arms licence of the petitioner forthwith. The petitioner remitted the amount for W.P.(C) No.2009/2010 2 renewal of arms licence as per Exhibit P5(A) dated 17.12.2009 and Exhibit P5(B) is a request for renewal enclosing the chalan which is dated 30.12.2009. By Exhibit P6, the petitioner was directed to deposit his weapon to the concerned Police Station . 3. The respondents have filed a statement. It is pointed out therein that the application has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police, Thrissur for a detailed enquiry and report and the same has not been received so far. The justification for the direction to deposit the weapon has also been explained in the statement. 4. The petitioner has filed a reply affidavit stating that the arms licence was renewed upto 31.12.2009 as per Exhibit P7 order. The petitioner has already deposited the arms before the Trichur Armoury which is evidenced by Exhibit P10 receipt. 5. According to the petitioner, there is threat to his life and therefore, there is urgent need for renewal of the licence itself. Learned Government Pleader submitted that atleast one month's time will be required to get the reports from the Tahsildar as well as from the Superintendent of Police and within a further period W.P.(C) No.2009/2010 3 of one month, final orders will be passed in the matter. In the light of the facts pleaded in the writ petition, there will be a direction to the 1st respondent to complete the process for renewal of licence within a period of six weeks from today. The petitioner will produce a copy of this judgment for compliance. This writ petition is disposed of as above. T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR JUDGE smp