Kathua district administration issues mandatory guidelines for arms licence renewal and surrender

KATHUA, May 22, 2026 — The Office of the District Magistrate Kathua has issued a formal public notice regulating the renewal and surrender of arms licences under the Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rules 2016.

Signed by District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma, the directive emphasizes that arms licences are renewed for a standard period of three or five years following proper police verification and the completion of all formal requirements. Licence holders are legally required to submit their renewal applications in the prescribed form to the licensing authority at least sixty days prior to the expiration date.

In response to observed non-compliance with these timelines, the administration has directed all individuals whose licences are due for renewal to submit applications along with requisite documents to the office of the District Magistrate well before the validity expires.

Conversely, licence holders who no longer wish to retain their privileges must immediately surrender their licences alongside their weapons to the concerned local police station under proper receipt.

The administration warned that failure to renew licences within the stipulated period may result in the immediate suspension or cancellation of the licence, alongside further legal action as warranted under the standing rules.