Arms Act, 1959
17. Variation, suspension and revocation of
licenses-
(1) The licensing authority may very the
conditions subject to which a license has been granted except such of them as
have been prescribed and may for that purpose require the license holder by
notice in writing to deliver-up the license 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 license, also vary the conditions of the license
except such of them as have been prescribed.
(3) The licensing authority may by order in
writing suspend a license for such periods it thinks fit or revoke a license -
(a) if the licensing
authority is satisfied that the holder of the license 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 license 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 license; or
(c) if the license was
obtained by the suppression of material information or on the basis of wrong
information provided by the holder of the license or any other person on his
behalf at the time of applying for it; or
(d) if any of the
conditions of the license has been contravened; or
(e) if the holder of
the license has failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (1) requiring
him to deliver-up the license.
(4) The licensing authority may also revoke a
license on the application of the holder thereof.
(5) Where the licensing authority makes an
order varying a license under sub-section (1) or an order suspending or
revoking a license under sub-section (3), it shall record in writing the
reasons therefor and furnish tot he holder of the
license 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 for revoke a license
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 license by such authority.
(7) A court conviction the holder of a license
of any offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder
may also suspend or revoke the license :
Provided that if the conviction is set aside on
appeal or otherwise, the suspension or revocation shall become void.]
(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 licenses granted under this Act throughout India
or any part thereof.
(10) On the suspension or revocation of a
license under this section the holder thereof shall without delay surrender the
license 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.