The High Court · 2025

Petition under Article 226 of lhe Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an order, Direction or a writ more particularly one in the nature ! of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring inaction of the Respondents for not consideration of the application of the petitioners. request for grant of fresh Arms License dl. 31 .08.2024 to possess two weapons i.e. '1 ) NPB Rifle/ Handgun 2) NPB Rifle with Area validity to "Throughout lndia" for sports purpose of under Aspiring shooter category as illegal, arbitrary, against the constitution of lndia and violation of Article 14, 19 and 20 and 21 of the Constitution of lndia and set aside the same. lA NO: 'l OF 2025 Petition under section 15'l cPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High court may be pleased to direct the respondents to consider the application of the petitioner dt.31 .o8.2O24 to issuance of the fresh Arms License to possession two weapons i.e-, 1)NPB Rilfle/ Hand Gun 2) NPB Rifle with area validity to throughout lndia for sports purpose of under aspiring shooter Category. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI MUNEER BASHA SHAIK Counsel for the Respondents: AGP FOR HOME The Court made the following: ORDER THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.V.SHRAVAN KUMAR WRIT PETITIO N No.31646 of2025 ORDER: Heard Sri Muneer Basha Shaik, learned counsel for the petitioner and leamed Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents. With their consent, this writ petition is being taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself.

2. This writ petition has been frled seeking the following prayer: - "Declaing the inaction of the respondents for not consideing the applicotion of tlrc petitioner's request for grant of fresh Arrns License dated 31.08'2024 to possess iruo -eapons i.e., 1) NPB Rifle/ Hand Gun and 2) NPB RiJle uith area ualiditg to 'Throughout India" for sports purpose of under Aspiing Shooter Category as illegal, arbitrary against tLe Constihttion of India and uiolation of Articles 14' 19, 2O and 21 of the Constitution of India and set aside the some."

3. Brief facts of the case stated are that the petitioner represents Telangana in shooting championships and also participated in the 9th Telangana State shooting championship competitions in the year 2023 held at Sports Authority of Telangana State Shooting Ranges, Hyderabad from 14th, to 21"t June,2023 at Hyderabad in 50 m Rifle Prone (nr) Championship Men (individual) ald scored 537 1600 arld was awarded as 2 aspiring shooter by virtue of having particip r ted in above Championships. The petitioner subsequently prr ticipated in X Telalgana State Shooting Championship C,l npetitions at Hyderabad 2024, held from 21"t June to 28th . lune,2024 at Hyderabad in 25M Standard Pistol (NR) Charn cionship Men Individua,l and scored 245/3OO ald was awarc[ d as aspiring shooter in Pistol event. He also participated in XI Telangana State championship competitions Rifle/Pistol lO25 held at Hyderabad from 21"t June to 30tr, June, 2025 ir 25M Standard Pistol (NR) Championship Men Individual and sr: 'red 24O/30O. It is submitted that the petitioner was registere < shooter with National Rifle Association as per sho,t er IS No. PSHM21l2l987}3 and registered player of Sporl ; Authority of Telangana State Shooting range. It is further s rbmitted that petitioner was a-lso awarded as "ASPRING SHOO [ER" ald has submitted an application for fresh Arms License br possessing two weapons i.e., 1) NPB Rifle Handgun and 2) I fPB Rifle with Area validit5z of "Throughout India" for sports ; Aspiring Shooter Category for Target Practict: urpose under to represent Telargana State in upcoming National & Zr na-l Shooting Competition Championships. It is further submitt rd that as per Rule 14 of the Arms Rules, 2016, on receipt of an rpplication for 3 grant of a license, the Licensing authority shall call for a report of the oflicer in-charge of the nearest police station on that application and such officer shall send his report in Form S-4 within a period of 3O days from the date of receipt of application' It is further submitted that Section 37 of Arms Rules, 2016, provides that "Aspiring Shooters", including those qua-lifying at Sate levels and recommended by recognized rifle associations are eligible for the grant of arms for sports practice, and the SHO has to recommend for the same. It is further submitted that as the SHO has no discretionar5r power to deny a recommendation when the criteria under Section 37 are met. It is further submitted that the Arms (Amendment) Rules, 2020 and Ministry of Home Affairs notilication S.O. 665(E) specified for the issuance of arms licenses to aspiring shooters who have met the Minimum Qualifying Scores (MQS) and obtained recommendations from the State Rifle Association and by disregarding of criteria, the respondents acted against the instructions and guidelines given by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is further submitted that in view of the above said guidelines, petitioner has made a representation dated 31.Oa.2O24 to the respondents to possess two weapons i.e., NPB Rifle Handgun and NPB Rifle with Area validity to "Throughout India" for sports purpose under "Aspiring ( ( - 4 *..:-"! - Shooter Category" but respondents are not (:( nsidering the representation made by the petitioner. Thus th<: petitioner this Court to pass appropriate orders to disposing of t I : application. 4. Learned Assistant Government pleader br Home on instructions would submit that appropriate o ders may be passed to the extent of disposing the application.

5. Having considered the above facts and ircumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this writ petition is disposed of directing the resp,r rdent No.2 to consider the application {lled by the petitioner dt.t:d 31.Og.2024 ald pass orders strictly in accordance with law rvLr hin a period of four (04) weeks from the date of receipt of a co1,. of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous appiications, if any pendin ;, shall stand closed. No order as to costs. //TRUE COPY// SO/. A. SRINIVASA REDDY A$ ;ISTANT REGISTRAR \' \ \\ , sECTroN oFFtcER \ The Commissroner of Police, Banjarahills, Hyderabad\ The Deputy Commissioner of Police, South East Zone\Hyde The Station House Officer, Madannapel P.S. Madannap\et, - The Principal Secretary, Home Department, Secretariat, Hyc Telangana. One CC to SRI MUNEER BASHA SHAIK, Advocate [OPUC] Two CCs to GP FOR HOME, High Court for the State of Te i Two CD Copies abad, T-G. /derabad. rrabad, State Of rgana, at Hyderabad To 1 2 J 4 b 7 PSK- GJP - r't ST4 Il 0t[ ?t[ I Ct . P,1 * rct!'1, |--? HIGH COURT DATED:1711012025 ORDER WP.No.31646 of 2025 /K- 'JL f r) .r{* a\ DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS \o