Army officer seeks HC directions for revocation of parents’ arms licences

An Army officer has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to the Deputy Magistrate of Chandigarh to decide on his application seeking revocation of arms licences of his parents and that the weapons be deposited in safe custody.

In the petition, Major Raj Digvijay Singh Sidhu said a dispute had arisen between him and his parents pertaining to sale of some property. Each of the parents of the petitioner possesses arms licences, which has been mentioned in the application.

He further submitted that in the application filed on October 1 before the UT District Magistrate, he sought suspension/revocation of the arms licences of his parents on the ground that the lives his wife, their twin daughters, aged two years, and himself are under threat because of the unstable behaviour of his father, who had on numerous occasions openly threatened to use his weapon. But neither the representation has been decided nor any action has been taken by the District Magistrate, so far, he added.

He also submitted that in the present petition, his prayer is only to the limited extent that his representation given to the District Magistrate may be considered and decided after affording an adequate opportunity of hearing to the petitioner or his counsel, so that any further order can be passed in accordance with law.

After hearing of the arguments, Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri directed the District Magistrate to consider and decide the application expeditiously, in accordance with law and after affording an adequate opportunity of hearing to all the persons concerned. The court said while considering and deciding the application the DM shall consider all issues raised by the petitioner, including that of the medical status of the persons named in the representation and thereafter, with due application of mind pass an appropriate order in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible but not later than three weeks.