THE ARMS ACT, 1959

ACT NO. 54 OF 1959 · Enacted [23rd December, 1959.] · 48 sections

PRELIMINARY

Section 1.Short title, extent and commencement.

Section 2.Definitions and interpretation.

ACQUISITION, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, SALE, IMPORT, EXPORT AND TRANSPORT OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION

Section 3.Licence for acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition.

Section 4.Licence for acquisition and possession of arms of specified description in certain cases.

Section 5.Licence for manufacture, sale, etc., of arms and ammunition.

Section 6.Licence for the shortening of guns or conversion of imitation firearms into firearms.

Section 7.Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition.

Section 8.Prohibition of sale or transfer of firearms not bearing identification marks.

Section 9.Prohibition of acquisition or possession by, or of sale or transfer to, young persons and certain other persons of firearms, etc.

Section 10.Licence for import and export of arms, etc.

Section 11.Power to prohibit import or export of arms, etc.

Section 12.Power to restrict or prohibit transport of arms.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO LICENCES

Section 13.Grant of licences.

Section 14.Refusal of licences.

Section 15.Duration and renewal of licence.

Section 16.Fees, etc., for licence.

Section 17.Variation, suspension and revocation of licences.

Section 18.Appeals.

POWERS AND PROCEDURE

Section 19.Power to demand production of licence, etc.

Section 20.Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances.

Section 21.Deposit of arms, etc., on possession ceasing to be lawful.

Section 22.Search and seizure by magistrate.

Section 23.Search of vessels, vehicles for arms, etc.

Section 24.Seizure and detention under orders of the Central Government.

Section 24A.Prohibition as to possession of notified arms in disturbed areas, etc.

Section 24B.Prohibition as to carrying of notified arms in or through public places in disturbed areas etc.

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Section 25.Punishment for certain offences.

Section 26.Secret contraventions.

Section 27.Punishment for using arms, etc.

Section 28.Punishment for use and possession of firearms or imitation firearms in certain cases.

Section 29.Punishment for knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed person or for delivering arms, etc., to person not entitled to possess the same.

Section 30.Punishment for contravention of licence or rule.

Section 31.Punishment for subsequent offences.

Section 32.Power to confiscate.

Section 33.Offences by companies.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 34.Sanction of Central Government for warehousing of arms.

Section 35.Criminal responsibility of persons in occupation of premises in certain cases.

Section 36.Information to be given regarding certain offences.

Section 37.Arrest and searches.

Section 38.Offences to be cognizable.

Section 39.Previous sanction of the district magistrate necessary in certain cases.

Section 40.Protection of action taken in good faith.

Section 41.Power to exempt.

Section 42.Power to take census of firearms.

Section 43.Power to delegate.

Section 44.Power to make rules.

Section 45.Act not to apply in certain cases.

Section 46.Repeal of Act 11 of 1878.