Judgment 1. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 2. The age old grievance of a citizen has again come for consideration before this Court that the authority is sitting tied over the matter and is not passing the final order and therefore, the authority be directed to come out of its slumber and rise to the occasion and pass an order. 3. It is most unfortunate that atleast in 60% of the cases, this High Court has to look into non-action, inaction and indecisiveness of the State Officers, who are required under the different laws, statutes, notifications, circulars or alike to take up the matter at the earliest and pass final orders, but the said authorities are not discharging the duties in accordance with law befitting the office held by them. The complaint of the present petitioner is that after the death of his father he has surrendered the gun to the arms dealer and thereafter made an application in the prescribed manner to the District Magistrate for grant of renewal of the licence, but even after lapse of eight years, the authority has not passed final orders on the said petition. 4. The complaint made by the petitioner simply projects a sorry state of affairs. It is true that the Administrative Officers are over burdened and do not find time to decide and dispose of the matter, which under the law they are obliged to do, but that does not mean that by their inaction or non-action or indecisiveness should flood this Court with this type of litigations which the High Court is required to decide with two lines orders that a particular authority should pass an order in accordance with law within the time schedule. 5. It is high time to remind all such officers that if they have jurisdiction to decide any matter, then they are obliged to pass orders in accordance with law within a reasonable time befitting their office in response to the demand of the occasion. 6. The petition is allowed with a direction to the District Magistrate, to dispose of the application for grant/renewal of the licence within a period of six weeks from the date of production of a copy of this order. 6. The petition is allowed with a direction to the District Magistrate, to dispose of the application for grant/renewal of the licence within a period of six weeks from the date of production of a copy of this order. He is however fore-warned that if he does not take up the matter and dispose of the same within the aforesaid time in accordance with law, then, it may be taken to be a serious lapse on his part and he may be dealt with under the provisions of Contempt of Court Act. 7. The petition is disposed of.