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The Arms Act, 1959

Central

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to arms and ammunition.

Act number
54 of 1959
Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs
Department
Department of Internal Security
Enacted
23 Dec 1959

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

48 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Definitions and interpretation.
  3. Section 3Licence for acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition.
  4. Section 4Licence for acquisition and possession of arms of specified description in certain cases.
  5. Section 5Licence for manufacture, sale, etc., of arms and ammunition.
  6. Section 6Licence for the shortening of guns or conversion of imitation firearms into firearms.
  7. Section 7Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition.
  8. Section 8Prohibition of sale or transfer of firearms not bearing identification marks.
  9. Section 9Prohibition of acquisition or possession by, or of sale or transfer to, young persons and certain other persons of firearms, etc.
  10. Section 10Licence for import and export of arms, etc.
  11. Section 11Power to prohibit import or export of arms, etc.
  12. Section 12Power to restrict or prohibit transport of arms.
  13. Section 13Grant of licences.
  14. Section 14Refusal of licences.
  15. Section 15Duration and renewal of licence.
  16. Section 16Fees, etc., for licence.
  17. Section 17Variation, suspension and revocation of licences.
  18. Section 18Appeals.
  19. Section 19Powers to demand production of licence, etc.
  20. Section 20Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances.
  21. Section 21Deposit of arms, etc., on possession ceasing to be lawful.
  22. Section 22Search and seizure by magistrate.
  23. Section 23Search of vessels, vehicles for arms, etc.
  24. Section 24Seizure and detention under orders of the Central Government.
  25. Section 24AProhibition as to possession of notified arms in disturbed areas, etc.
  26. Section 24BProhibition as to carrying of notified arms in or through public places in disturbed areas etc.
  27. Section 25Punishment for certain offences.
  28. Section 26Secret contraventions.
  29. Section 27Punishment for using arms, etc.
  30. Section 28Punishment for use and possession of firearms or imitation firearms in certain cases.
  31. Section 29Punishment for knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed person or for delivering arms, etc., to person not entitled to possess the same.
  32. Section 30Punishment for contravention of licence or rule.
  33. Section 31Punishment for subsequent offences.
  34. Section 32Power to confiscate.
  35. Section 33Offences by companies.
  36. Section 34Sanction of Central Government for warehousing of arms.
  37. Section 35Criminal responsibility of persons in occupation of premises in certain cases.
  38. Section 36Information to be given regarding certain offences.
  39. Section 37Arrest and searches.
  40. Section 38Offences to be cognizable.
  41. Section 39Previous sanction of the district magistrate necessary in certain cases.
  42. Section 40Protection of action taken in good faith.
  43. Section 41Power to exempt.
  44. Section 42Power to take census of firearms.
  45. Section 43Power to delegate.
  46. Section 44Power to make rules.
  47. Section 45Act not to apply in certain cases.
  48. Section 46Repeal of Act 11 of 1878.