The Arms Act 1959

(Amended up to latest amendment dated 13.12.2019)

Act 1No. 54 of 1959 23rd December 1959

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

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Arms Act, 1959.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date2 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

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1. This Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and Sch.; and comes into force in Pondicherry vide Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 1-10-1963); and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 1-7-1965); Sikkim vide Notification No. G.S.R. 461 (E), dated 21-7-1976 (w.e.f. 1-8-1976).

2. 1st October, 1962, vide notification No. G.S.R. 992, dated 13th July, 1962, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i).

 

 

Section 2 Definitions and Interpretation

 

CHAPTER II 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

 

CHAPTER III 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

 

CHAPTER IV 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

 

 

 

CHAPTER V 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 and Section 32 Power to confiscate

Section 33 Offences by companies

 

CHAPTER VI 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

Download Arms Rules 1962