2025:JHHC:18122 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No. 1896 of 2025 M/s Ranchi Gun House, having it’s shop at Parwati Plaza Complex, Pyada Toli, Upper Bazar, Ranchi, P.O. Ranchi GPO & P.S. Kotwali, District Ranchi, Jharkhand, represented through its Partner Mr. Raj Rishi Tiwari, S/o Late Mr. S.N. Sharma, R/o S. No. 439-A, Nagra Toli, Behind Women’s College Hostel No. 3, P.O.-Ranchi GPO, P.S.-Lalpur Colony, Ranchi (Jharkhand) ..... .... Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. The Chief Secretary, State of Jharkhand having its office at Project Bhawan, PO & P.S-Dhurwa, Dist.-Ranchi-834004 3. Secretary, Department of Home Affairs having its office at Project Bhawan, PO & P.S-Dhurwa, Dist.-Ranchi-834004 4. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Ranchi, having its office at Collectorate PO Ranchi GPO and PS Kotwali Dist.-Ranchi Jharkhand- 834001 … …. Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GAUTAM KUMAR CHOUDHARY For the Petitioner : Mr. Amit Kr. Das, Advocate Mr. Kanishka Deo, Advocate Mr. Siddharth Jain, Advocate For the Respondents-State : Mr. Ashutosh Anand, AAG-III ------ Order No. 05 / Dated : 07.07.2025. 1. Petitioner is a firm and a dealer of arms and ammunition having a valid licence since 1971 which was granted under Arms Rules, 1962 and was renewed from time to time for repair, test, sale and transfer etc. of arms and ammunition. 2. Petitioner moved the Competent Authority in terms of Rule 73 read with Form VIII of Schedule III of the Arms Rules, 2016 for converting the existing licence under form XI and XII licence under Arms Rules, 1962 and grant the same in the composite licence. In the event the application for composite licence did not find favour, an alternative prayer was made for renewal of the licence which was earlier standing in the name of the firm. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel that petitioner moved the Competent Authority for the renewal of licence on 17.11.2017 and despite the earlier order passed by this Court in W.P. (C) No. 3904 of 2023, only two licences have been renewed, whereas applications submitted under Form XI and XII under Arms Rules, 1962 were not renewed. 4. For the present the Petitioner only seeks an early renewal, as non-renewal is 2025:JHHC:18122 2 adversely affecting the business of the firm. 5. The delay on the face of it is inordinate and any delay in administrative decisions raises many questions. Almost eight years have elapsed since the petitioner submitted their application for renewal of the licence and without any cogent reason the matter appears to be still pending. Under the circumstance, Secretary, Department of Home Affairs (respondent no. 3) is directed to dispose of the application for renewal of the licence within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. With the aforesaid direction, the instant writ petition stands disposed of. (Gautam Kumar Choudhary, J.) Pawan/ -