Section 17: Variation, suspension and revocation of licences
Arms Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide
Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1959
(1) The licensing authority may vary the conditions subject to which a licence has been granted except such of them as have been prescribed and may for that purpose require the licence holder by notice in writing to deliver-up the licence to it within such time as may be specified in the notice.
(2) The licensing authority may, on the application of the holder of a licence, also vary the conditions of the licence except such of them as have been prescribed.
(3) The licensing authority may by order in writing suspend a licence for such period as it thinks fit or revoke a licence
(a) if the licensing authority is satisfied that the holder of the licence is prohibited by this Act or by any other law for the time being in force, from acquiring, having in his possession or carrying any arms or ammunition, or is of unsound mind, or is for any reason unfit for a licence under this Act; or
(b) if the licensing authority deems it necessary for the security of the public peace or for public safety to suspend or revoke the licence; or
(c) if the licence was obtained by the suppression of material information or on the basis of wrong information provided by the holder of the licence or any other person on his behalf at the time of applying for it; or
(d) if any of the conditions of the licence has been contravened; or
(e) if the holder of the licence has failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (1) requiring him to deliver-up the licence.
(4) The licensing authority may also revoke a licence on the application of the holder thereof.
(5) Where the licensing authority makes an order varying a licence under sub-section (1) or an order suspending or revoking a licence under sub-section (3), it shall record in writing the reasons therefor and furnish to the holder of the licence on demand a brief statement of the same unless in any case the licensing authority is of the opinion that it will not be in the public interest to furnish such statement.
(6) The authority to whom the licensing authority is subordinate may by order in writing suspend or revoke a licence on any ground on which it may be suspended or revoked by the licensing authority; and the foregoing provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to the suspension or revocation of a licence by such authority.
(7) A Court convicting the holder of a licence of any offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder may also suspend or revoke the licence:
(8) An order of suspension or revocation under sub-section (7) may also be made by an Appellate Court or by the High
Court when exercising its powers of revision.
(9) The Central Government may, by order in the Official Gazette, suspend or revoke or direct any licensing authority to suspend or revoke all or any licences granted under this Act throughout India or any part thereof.
(10) On the suspension or revocation of a licence under this section the holder thereof shall without delay surrender the licence to the authority by whom it has been suspended or revoked or to such other authority as may be specified in this behalf in the order of suspension or revocation.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 17
Section 17 governs the variation, suspension, and revocation of arms licences, establishing mandatory statutory grounds, the requirement of a speaking order recording reasons in writing, and the principle that mere registration of a criminal case does not automatically justify cancellation.
When an arms licence is suspended or cancelled mechanically following an FIR (e.g., in a matrimonial or land dispute), file a statutory appeal under Section 18 or a Writ Petition under Article 226. Plead the Chhanga Prasad Sahu Full Bench doctrine: demonstrate that the weapon was neither used nor involved in the alleged incident, that the dispute is private, and that no threat to public peace exists.