High Court DB to hear Arms License ‘scam’ PIL on 7 August

A Division Bench of High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu (through virtual mode) comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal has directed the Registry to list PIL No.09/2012 (infamous Arms Licences Scam) titled Sheikh Mohd. Shafi & Anr V/s Union of India and Ors. on August 7th, 2025 as the matter could not be considered due to paucity of time.

When this much publicized PIL came up for hearing, Sr. AAG Mohsin Qadri and Assisting Counsel Maha Majeed appearing for UT of J&K informed the Division Bench that pursuant to order dated April 24th, 2025, the General Administration Department (GAD) has filed a comprehensive Status Report indicating the steps taken as directed by the Division Bench vide its detailed order passed on April 24th, 2025.

Advocate S.S. Ahmed with Advocate Adnan Mushtaq Jaral appearing for the petitioners submitted that he has already received the copy of the said status report filed by General Administration Department.

The matter could not be considered by the Division Bench due to paucity of time and looking into the importance of the matter, the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice Arun Palli directed the Registry to re-list the instant PIL on August 7th, 2025.

The CBI is investigating the Arms Licence Scam ranging from 2012 to 2016 which was transferred to it by the Government of J&K in the year 2018 and CBI registered two FIRs RCCHG0512018S0006 and RCCHG0512018S0007 and in September, 2024, the Division Bench then headed by Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan (since Retired) impleaded CBI as a party respondent and the CBI in its detailed Status Report divulged that from 2012 to 2016, the various District Magistrates in J&K in lieu of monetary considerations in connivance with Arms Dealers, Judicial Clerks and middlemen issued 2.63 Lakhs Arms Licences to non-deserving persons in contravention of Arms Act and the rules framed thereunder.

The CBI after completion of investigation in both the FIRs has sought Prosecution Sanction against more than 09 IAS Officers who in their capacity as District Magistrates in J&K issued Arms Licences to the Non-Deserving Persons and so far Government of India has granted Prosecution Sanction only against 01 IAS Officer and Chargesheet/Challan has been filed against the said officer in the designated CBI Court.

The Government of J&K in March, 2021 granted Prosecution Sanction against the JKAS Officers allegedly involved in the Arms Licence Scam and more than 15 Charge-Sheets have been filed by the CBI in the matter in both the designated Courts at Jammu and Srinagar.

The PIL No.09/2012 which has now been fixed for hearing on August 7th, 2025 has highlighted the rampant corruption in J&K and shielding of high-ups in the various scams and the lackadaisical approach of J&K Government in forwarding the prosecution proposals to the MHA/DoPT of those involved in various scams. DSGI Vishal Shamra appeared for Union of India in the matter.

The post High Court DB to hear Arms License ‘scam’ PIL on 7 August first appeared on JK Newsline.