Madras High CourtWP/17969/2025dismissed

Pradhap Chandran v. Additional Secretary Cum

2026-01-20Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha7 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 20-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA Pradhap Chandran ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. Additional Secretary Cum Commissioner Revenue Administration, Department Of Revenue Administration And Disaster Management, Commissionerate, Cheppauk, Chennai 600 005.

2. The District Collector Cum District Executive Magistrate, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam

3. The District Superintendent Of Police Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam

4. The District Superintendent Of Police Thiruvarur Distrct, Thiruvarur

5. Sub Collector Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam

6. The District Forest Officer Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam ..Respondent(s) Prayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of 1st Respondent viz, impugned proceedings dated 12.02.2025Vide Na.Ka. Vi Ni No 5 (4) / 5360595 / 2023 by confirming the impugned proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 06.07.2023 vide Na.Ka. no 9576 / 2022 / C4 and quash the same as illegal and invalid and direct the 2nd respondent to issue Licence for short Gun with description DBBL, SBBL, DBML, SBML to the writ petitioner.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.T.S.Baskaran For Respondent(s):

Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, AGP for R1, R2, R5 & R6; Mr.L.Baskaran, GA (Crl. Side) for R3 & R4.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs:- "calling for the records of 1st Respondent viz, impugned proceedings dated 12.02.2025Vide Na.Ka. Vi Ni No 5 (4) / 5360595 / 2023 by confirming the

impugned proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 06.07.2023 vide Na.Ka. no 9576 / 2022 / C4 and quash the same as illegal and invalid and direct the 2nd respondent to issue Licence for short Gun with description DBBL, SBBL, DBML, SBML to the writ petitioner."

2. The petitioner submits that he is engaged in the business of real estate and agriculture and faces security threats due to the nature of his business activities. Hence, he had applied for the issuance of a licence for a short gun on 27.06.2022 before the 2nd respondent. Along with the application, he submitted copies of his Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Driving Licence, gas connection letter, and marriage registration certificate. The said documents were enclosed as proof of the petitioner's permanent residence at No. 13A, Angalamman Kovil Street, Kilvelur, Nagapattinam District. At the time of submitting the application, the petitioner was residing at Door No. 60/5, Kamalambal Nagar, Thiruvarur. He is residing at Thiruvarur for the purpose of his wife's employment and his children's education. However, the petitioner is a permanent resident of Kilvelur, Nagapattinam District. In the application submitted to the 2nd respondent, the petitioner clearly stated his permanent address as Kilvelur, Nagapattinam District, and his present address as Thiruvarur.

3. The 2nd respondent, after conducting an enquiry and obtaining reports from the 3rd and 4th respondents, ultimately rejected the petitioner's application by order dated 06.07.2023, stating that the reasons furnished by him for the issuance of a short gun licence were not acceptable and that, since the petitioner was residing in Thiruvarur District, he could obtain the licence from the authorities in that District. Aggrieved by the said order, the petitioner preferred an appeal before the 1st respondent. By order dated 12.02.2025, the 1st respondent confirmed the order passed by the 2nd respondent and rejected the appeal. Challenging the order of the 2nd respondent dated 06.07.2023 and the consequential order of the 1st respondent dated 12.02.2025, the petitioner has approached this Court.

4. Heard the learned counsel on either side.

5. The petitioner, who has been residing in Thiruvarur District for the past 10 years and whose family is admittedly settled there, submitted an application for the grant of a gun licence to the District Collector, Nagapattinam District, the 2nd respondent herein. Taking into consideration the report of the 3rd respondent that the petitioner is residing at Thiruvarur, the request for the grant of a gun licence has been rightly rejected by respondents 1 and 2 and I find no error in the impugned orders.

6. Therefore, the Writ Petition is dismissed. It is needless to state that if the petitioner makes an application before the District Collector, Thiruvarur, the same shall be considered on its own merits and without being influenced by the impugned order subject matter of this Writ Petition. The said application shall also be considered taking into account the report submitted by the Superintendent of Police, Thiruvarur, stating that no criminal case is pending against the petitioner. No costs.

20-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order SHR

1. Additional Secretary Cum Commissioner Revenue Administration, Department Of Revenue Administration And Disaster Management, Commissionerate, Cheppauk, Chennai 600 005.

2. The District Collector Cum District Executive Magistrate, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.

3. The District Superintendent Of Police Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.

4. The District Superintendent Of Police Thiruvarur Distrct, Thiruvarur.

5. Sub Collector Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.

6. The District Forest Officer Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.

P.T.ASHA, J.

SHR 20-01-2026