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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has recently quashed an order of the Pune Police Commissioner cancelling the arms license of Manorma Khedkar, mother of Ex-IAS officer Pooja Khedkar.

A division bench of the high court comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan was hearing a petition filed by Monarma who claimed that she was not heard nor any notice was served to her before passing an order of cancellation of arms license on August 2.

A case was registered against Manorma after a video of hers went viral where she was holding a gun during an argument about a land dispute. Manorma was in custody from 18th June 2024 to 2nd August 2024.

The public prosecutor argued that a notice was posted on the door of the petitioner’s house and since the notice period of 10 days had lapsed and as none had appeared, it was presumed that the petitioner had nothing to say on her behalf.

The high court in its order said “Considering that there is nothing to show that the notice was duly served on the petitioner as mandated in law, the impugned order cannot be sustained. Even otherwise, the petitioner was in custody during the period from 18th June, 2024 to 2nd August 2024 and could not have appeared before the authority,” the order reads.

Accordingly, the high court proceeded to quash the order of the commissioner cancelling her license. The bench remitted back the matter for fresh consideration.

The bench directed the commissioner to issue a fresh notice to the petitioner to appear before him and thereafter, take an appropriate decision on the petitioner’s application, in accordance with the law

Case title: Manorama Dilip Khedkar vs State of Maharashtra