The High Court of Karnataka has said that the Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu, had acted “blatantly contrary to law” in keeping for nearly three years an application filed by a “renowned shooter”, who had sought permission under the Arms Act, 1959 to possess additional arms, even though the application should have been considered within seven days as per the law.
The court directed the Deputy Commissioner to decide the application within four weeks while holding that the petitioner, being a “renowned shooter” as per the definition of the Act, was entitled to possess 10 arms and up to one lakh ammunition/firearms as per the provisions of the Act and the Arms Rules, 1960.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order while allowing a petition filed by 54-year-old K. Sajan Aiyappa, a resident of Kolkeri village of Napoklu in Kodagu district.
