Licensing Authority Can’t Deny Arms Licence Merely On The Ground That Applicant Doesn’t Possess Sufficient Property: Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court has held that a licensing authority cannot refuse arms license to a person merely on the ground that such person does not own sufficient property.Justice KL Waldane of the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court held the same under Section 14 of the Arms Act, 1959 while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by one Ashok Patil who claimed that there is a threat to. The Bombay High Court has held that a licensing authority cannot refuse arms license to a person merely on the ground that such person does not own sufficient property. Justice KL Waldane of the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court held the same under Section 14 of the Arms Act, 1959 while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by one Ashok Patil who claimed that there is a threat to his life by anti-social elements. As for the law, Section 14 of the Arms Act, 1959 states: Notwithstanding anything in section 13, licensing authority shall refuse to grant 1. a) a license under section 3, section 4, or section 5 where such license is required in respect of any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition a license in any other case under Chapter II, where such license is required by a person whom then licensing authority has reason to believe to be prohibited by this Act or by any other law for the time being in force from acquiring, having in his possession or carrying any arms or ammunition, or to be of unsound mind, or to be for any reason unfit for a license under this Act, or where the licensing authority deems it necessary for the security of the public peace or for public safety to refuse to grant such license.