Section 25 in The Arms Act, 1959

25. Punishment for certain offences.

- [(1) Whoever(a)[manufactures, obtains, procures,] sells, transfers, converts, repairs, tests or proves, or exposes or offers for sale or transfer, or has in his possession for sale, transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof, any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 5; or

Form of Charge ▼

[Substituted by Act 25 of 1983, Section 8, for sub-Section (1)(w.e.f. 22.6.1983.)]

Form of Charge under section 25, sub-section (1), clause (a)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.), ereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of................, at................., manufactured/sold/ transferred/converted/repaired/tested or proved or exposed or offered for sale or transfer or had in your possession for sale/transfer/conversion/repair/test or proof arms or ammunition, namely,...............(describe the kind, class, and other specifications, if any, of the arm and the ammunition) in contravention of section 5 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(b)shortens the barrel of a firearm or converts an imitation firearm into a firearm [or convert from any category of firearms mentioned in the Arms Rules, 2016 into any other category of firearms] [Inserted by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.] in contravention of section 6; or

Form of Charge ▼

[Section 5 renumbered as sub-Section (1) thereof and sub-Section (2) inserted by Act 25 of 1983, Section 4 (w.e.f. 22.6.1983]

Form of Charge under section 25, sub-section (1), clause (b)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.), ereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you, on or about the ...............day of.............., at..............., cut and shortened the barrel of a firearm, namely,...............(or converted an imitation firearm into a firearm), and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1)(b) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

[***] [[Clause (c) omitted by Act 42 of 1988, Section 5 (w.e.f.27.5.1988.]](d)brings into, or takes out of, India, any arms or ammunition of any class or description in contravention of section 11, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than [seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life] [Substituted 'three years but which may extend to seven years' by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.] and shall also be liable to fine.

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Form of Charge under section 25, sub-section (1), clause (d)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.), ereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at.............., brought into, or took out of India arms or ammunition, namely,..............., of a class or description...............(describe the class and specifications, if any, of the arms and the ammunition) in contravention of section 11 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1)(d) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

[(1-A) Whoever acquires, has in his possession or carries any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition in contravention of section 7 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than [seven years but which may extend to fourteen years] [Inserted by Act 42 of 1988, Section 5 (w.e.f. 27.5.1988.] and shall also be liable to fine.[Provided that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than seven years.] [Inserted by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.]

(1AB)[ Whoever, by using force, takes the firearm from the police or armed forces shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.] [Inserted by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.]

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-A)I,..............(name and office of the Court of Session), ereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., acquired, had in your possession or carried prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-A) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

[(1-AA) Whoever manufactures, sells, transfers, converts, repairs, tests or proves, or exposes or offers for sale or transfer or has in his possession for sale, transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof, any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition in contravention of section 7 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than [ten years] [Inserted by Act 42 of 1988, Section 5 (w.e.f. 27.5.1988.] but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.]

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-AA)I,..............(name and office of the Court of Session),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., manufactured/sold/transferred/converted/repaired/tested or proved/exposed or offered for sale or transferred or had in your possession for sale/transfer/conversion/repair/test or proof prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-AA) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

[(1-AAA)] [Section 25 of sub-Section (1-A) renubered as sub-Section (1-AAA) inserted by Act 42 of 1988, Section 5 (w.e.f. 27.5.1988.]Whoever has in contravention of a notification issued under section 24-A in his possession or in contravention of a notification issued under section 24-B carries or otherwise has in his possession, any arms or ammunition shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than [three years, but which may extend to seven years] [[Substituted by Act 39 of 1985, Section 2,for "one year, but which may extend to seven years.]] and shall also be liable to fine.

Form of Charge ▼

Form of Charge under section 25(1-AAA)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., had in contravention of a notification issued under section 24-A of the Arms Act, 1959 in your possession or in contravention of a notification issued under section 24-B of the Arms Act, 1959 carried or otherwise had in your possession, arms or ammunition, namely,..............., and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-AAA) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(1-B) Whoever

(a)acquires, has in his possession or carries any firearm or ammunition in contravention of section 3; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(a)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., acquired/had in your possession or carried a firearm or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of section 3 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(a) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(b)acquires, has in his possession or carries in any place specified by notification under section 4 any arms of such class or description as has been specified in that notification in contravention of that section; or

Form of Charge ▼

Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(b)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., acquired/had in your possession or carried in a place, namely,..............., specified by notification under section 4 of the Arms Act, 1959 any arm, namely,..............., of such class or description............... (describe class or description) which had been specified in that notification in contravention of that section, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(b) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(c)sells or transfers any firearm which does not bear the name of the maker, manufacturers number or other identification mark stamped or otherwise shown thereon as required by sub-section (2) of section 8 or does any act in contravention of sub-section (1) of that section; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(c)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., sold or transferred a firearm, namely,..............., which did not bear the name of the maker, manufacturers number or other identification mark stamped or otherwise shown thereon as required by sub-section (2) of section 8 of the Arms Act, 1959 or did an act, to wit, ..............., in contravention of sub-section (1) of that section and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(c) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(d)being a person to whom sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 9 applies, acquires, has in his possession or carries any firearm or ammunition in contravention of that section; or

Form of Charge ▼

Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(d)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., being a person to whom sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Arms Act, 1959 applied/acquired, had in your possession or carried a firearm or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of that section, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(d) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(e)sells or transfers, or converts, repairs, tests or proves any firearm or ammunition in contravention of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 9; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(e)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of theaccused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., sold or transferred or converted/repaired/tested/or proved a firearm or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(e) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(f)brings into, or takes out of, India, any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 10; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(f)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., brought into or took out of India, arms or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of section 10 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B) (f) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(g)transports any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 12; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(g)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., transported arms or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of section 12 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B) (g) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(h)fails to deposit arms or ammunition as required by sub-section (2) of section 3, or sub-section (1) of section 21; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(h)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., failed to deposit arms or ammunition, namely,..............., as required by sub-section (2) of section 3, or sub-section (1) of section 21 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B) (h) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(i)being a manufacturer of, or dealer in, arms or ammunition, fails, on being required to do so by rules made under section 44, to maintain a record or account or to make therein all such entries as are required by such rules or intentionally makes a false entry therein or prevents or obstructs the inspection of such record or account or the making of copies of entries therefrom or prevents or obstructs the entry into any premises or other place where arms or ammunition are or is manufactured or kept or intentionally fails to exhibit or conceals such arms or ammunition or refuses to point out where the same are or is manufactured or kept, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than [two years but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine] [Substituted 'one year but which may extend to three years' by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.] and shall also be liable to fine:

Provided that the Court may for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than [two years] [Substituted 'one year' by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.].

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-B)(i)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., being a manufacturer of or dealer in arms or ammunition,namely,..............., failed on being required to do so by rules made under section 44 of the Arms Act, 1959, to maintain a record or account or to make therein all such entries as were required by such rules or intentionally made a false entry therein or prevented or obstructed the inspection of such record or account or the making of copies of entries therefrom or prevented or obstructed the entry into premises or other place where arms or ammunition, namely,..............., were or was manufactured or kept or intentionally failed to exhibit or concealed such or refused to point out where the same were or was manufactured or kept and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-B)(i) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(1-C) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1-B), whoever commits an offence punishable under that sub-section in any disturbed area shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, disturbed area means any area declared to be a disturbed area under any enactment, for the time being in force, making provision for the suppression of disorder and restoration and maintenance of public order, and includes any areas specified by notification under section 24-A or section 24-B.

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Form of Charge under section 25(1-C)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1-B), committed an offence, to wit, ..............., punishable under that sub-section in a disturbed area, to wit,...............and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(1-C) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(2)Whoever being a person to whom sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 9 applies, acquires, has in his possession or carries any firearm or ammunition in contravention of that section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

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Form of charge under section 25(2)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., being a person to whom sub-clause (i) of sub-clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Arms Act, 1959 applied/acquired/had in your possession or carried a firearm or ammunition, namely,..............., in contravention of that section, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(2) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(3)Whoever sells or transfers any firearm, ammunition or other arms

(i)without informing the district magistrate having jurisdiction or the officer in charge of the nearest police station, of the intended sale or transfer of that firearm, ammunition or other arms; or

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Form of Charge under section 25(3)(i)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., sold or transferred a firearm/ammunition, namely,..............., or other arms without informing the District Magistrate having jurisdiction or the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station of the intended sale or transfer of that firearm/ammunition or other arms, in contravention of the provisions of clause (a) or clause (b) of proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(3)(i) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(ii)before the expiration of the period of forty-five days from the date of giving such information to such district magistrate or the officer in charge of the police station,

in contravention of the provisions of clause (a) or clause (b) of the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine of an amount which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

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Form of Charge under section 25(3)(ii)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., sold or transferred a firearm/ammunition, namely,..............., or other arms before the expiration of the period of forty five days from the date of giving such information to such District Magistrate having jurisdiction or the officer-in-charge of the police station, in contravention of the provisions of clause (a) or clause (b) of the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 of the Arms Act, 1959, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(3) (ii) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(4)Whoever fails to deliver-up a licence when so required by the licensing authority under sub-section (1) of section 17 for the purpose of varying the conditions specified in the licence or fails to surrender a licence to the appropriate authority under sub-section (10) of that section on its suspension or revocation shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine of an amount which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

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Form of Charge under section 25(4)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., failed to deliver up a licence when so required by the Licencing Authority under sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Arms Act, 1959 for the purpose of varying the conditions specified in the licence or failed to surrender a licence to the appropriate authority under sub-section (10) of that section on its suspension or revocation and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(4) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(5)Whoever, when required under section 19 to give his name and address, refuses to give such name and address or gives a name or address which subsequently transpires to be false shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine of an amount which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.

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Form of Charge under section 25(5)I,..............(name and office of the Magistrate, etc.),hereby charge you..............(name of the accused)as follows:That you,on or about the...............day of.............., at..............., when required under section 19 of the Arms Act, 1959 to give your name and address, to wit,..............., refused to give such name and address or gave a name or address which subsequently transpired to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 25(5) of the Arms Act, 1959, and within my cognizance.And I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court on the said charge.

(6)[ If any member of an organised crime syndicate or any person on its behalf has at any time has in his possession or carries any arms or ammunition in contravention of any provision of Chapter II shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

(7)Whoever on behalf of a member of an organised crime syndicate or a person on its behalf, -

(i)manufactures, obtains, procures, sells, transfers, converts, repairs, tests or proves, or exposes or offers for sale or transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof, any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 5; or

(ii)shortens the barrel of a firearm or converts an imitation firearm into a firearm or converts from any category of firearms mentioned in the Arms Rules, 2016 into any other category of firearms in contravention of section 6; or

(iii)brings into, or takes out of India, any arms or ammunition of any class or description in contravention of section 11, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation. - For the purposes of sub-sections (6) and (7), -

(a)"organised crime" means any continuing unlawful activity by any person, singly or collectively, either as a member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate, by use of violence or threat of violence or intimidation or coercion, or other unlawful means, with the objective of gaining pecuniary benefits, or gaining undue economic or other advantage for himself or any person;

(b)"organised crime syndicate" means a group of two or more persons who, acting either singly or collectively, as a syndicate or gang indulge in activities of organised crime.

(8)Whoever involves in or aids in the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition in contravention of sections 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, "illicit trafficking" means the import, export, acquisition, sale, delivery, movement or transfer of firearms and ammunition into, from or within the territory of India, if the firearms and ammunition are not marked in accordance with the provisions of this Act or are being trafficked in contravention of the provisions of this Act including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition.

(9)Whoever uses firearm in a rash or negligent manner or in celebratory gunfire so as to endanger human life or personal safety of others shall be punishable with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to rupees one lakh, or with both.Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, "celebratory gunfire" means the practice of using firearm in public gatherings, religious places, marriage parties or other functions to fire ammunition.] [Inserted by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.]