Arms Act, 1959
21. Deposit of arms, etc., on possession
ceasing to be lawful -
1. Any person having in his possession any
arms or ammunition the possession whereof has, in consequence of the expiration
of the duration of a license or of the suspension or revocation of a license or
by the issue of a notification under section 4 or by any reason whatever,
ceased to be lawful, shall without unnecessary delay deposit the same either
with the officer incharge of the nearest police
station or subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, with a licensed
dealer or where such person is a member of the armed force of the Union, in a
unit armoury .
Explanation - In this sub-section
" unitarmoury " includes and armoury in a ship or establishment of the Indian Navy.
2. Where arms or ammunition have or has
been deposited under sub-section (1) the depositor or in the case of his death,
his legal representative, shall, at any time before the expiry of such period
as may be prescribed, be entitled-
(a) to receive back
anything so deposited on his becoming entitled by virtue of this Act or any
other law for the time being in force to have the same in his possession, or
(b) to dispose, or
authorize the disposal, of anything so deposited by sale or otherwise to any
person entitled by virtue of this Act or any other law for the time being in
force to have, or not prohibited by this Act or such other law from having, the
same in his possession and to receive the proceeds of any such disposal :
Provided that nothing in this
sub-section be deemed to authorize the return or disposal of anything of which
confiscation has been directed under section 32.
3. All things deposited and not
received back or disposed of under sub-section (2) within the period therein
referred to shall be forfeited to Government by order of the district
magistrate :
Provided that in the case of suspension of a
license no such forfeiture shall be ordered in respect of a thing covered by
the license during the period of suspension.
4. Before making an order sub-section (3) the
district magistrate shall by notice in writing to be served upon the depositor
or in the case of his death, upon his legal representative, in the prescribed
manner, require him to show cause within thirty days from the service of the
notice why the things specified in the notice should not be forfeited.
5. After considering the cause, if any, shown
by the depositor or as the case may be, his legal representative, district
magistrate shall pass such order as he thinks fit.
6. The Government may any time return to the
depositor or his legal representative things forfeited to it or the proceeds of
disposal thereof wholly or in part.