#licensing authority

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that licensing authorities cannot reject arms license renewals solely because a criminal case is pending. A concrete evaluation of public safety risk under Section 17(3)(b) is mandatory - mere registration of an FIR, without evidence linking the firearm to the alleged offense, is insufficient. This protects lawful license holders from arbitrary administrative action and reinforces procedural fairness in firearm regulation.

Gujarat High Court rules that District Collectors lack authority to impose extra licensing conditions for fireworks manufacturing beyond those prescribed in the Explosives Rules, 2008. The court quashed the state government's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated 21.08.2025 as ultra vires Section 5 of the Explosives Act, reinforcing that rule-making power rests solely with the Central Government. The judgment directs fresh disposal of pending applications within six weeks, setting a precedent against administrative overreach in licensing matters.

Rajasthan High Court holds that mere pendency of a criminal case is insufficient to deny or revoke an arms license; speaking orders and public safety nexus required.