Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition
Section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959 deals with prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition. No person shall-- (a) acquire, have in his possession or carry; The Act came into force on 01 Oct 1962.
No person shall--
(a) acquire, have in his possession or carry; or
(b) 1[use, manufacture] sell, transfer, convert, repair, test or prove; or
(c) expose or offer for sale or transfer or have in his possession for sale, transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof,
any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition unless he has been specially authorised by the Central Government in this behalf.
Section 7, The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Feroz Ahmad Zargar vs Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A criminal court does not have inherent jurisdiction to recall or review its own final orders. Once a court has signed its judgment or final order disposing of a case, it cannot alter or review the same except to correct clerical or arithmetical errors as provided in Section 362 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. When a party is aggrieved by a trial court order, the proper remedy is to challenge it before a superior forum (High Court), not to seek recall from the trial court itself. The fact that a judgment relied upon by the trial court has been stayed by a higher court does not confer upon the trial court the power to review its own orders.
On this section: Petitioners were charged with illegal possession and use of firearms under these sections.
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Javaid Ahmad Bhat vs Union Territory Of Jammu And Kashmir
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When an accused is charged with offences punishable under Chapters IV and VI of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the stringent bail provisions of Section 43-D(5) apply, which requires the court to be satisfied on perusal of the case diary or report that there are reasonable grounds for believing the accusation is prima facie true before bail can be granted. At the bail stage, the court cannot minutely appreciate the evidence or go into intricate questions of whether the offences are made out, as such appreciation is expected at the trial stage. If the trial court has properly considered all aspects of the case and rejected bail, the High Court will not interfere unless there is illegality or perversity in the order.
On this section: Offences related to illegal possession and use of firearms - cited in the FIR
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… The allegation is that the accused have committed the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 447, 449, 506(ii), 302 r/w. Section 149 of the IPC, Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 7 of the Arms Act. The trial: 4. On the accused pleading not guilty to the charge framed against them by the Sessions Court for the above offences, the prosecution has permitted to adduce evidence in support of its case. The prosecution examined 27 witnesses as PWs 1 to 27 and through them, Exts. P1 to …
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Questions about Section 7
What have the courts held on Section 7 of the Arms Act?
Feroz Ahmad Zargar vs Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (01 Mar 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Petitioners were charged with illegal possession and use of firearms under these sections. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below.
How do I find court cases under Section 7 of the Arms Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Arms Act 7, section 7 Arms Act, section 7 of the Arms Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Feroz Ahmad Zargar vs Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (01 Mar 2025).
What should I read with Section 7 of the Arms Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 2: most recently S.O. 6203(E) dated 14/12/2018, Supersession of notification S.O 1636 (E) dated 19.05.17 on Delegation of power on Deptt. of Industrial Policy and Promotion (2018), then S.O. 1636(E) dated 19/05/2017 on Delegation of power to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (2017).
When did Section 7 of the Arms Act come into force?
Section 7 of the Arms Act, cited as Arms Act 7, came into force on 01 Oct 1962, having been enacted on 23 Dec 1959. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 25. Punishment for certain offences1755 words
- 2. Definitions and interpretation734 words
- 44. Power to make rules681 words
- 24A. Prohibition as to possession of notified arms in disturbed areas, etc618 words
- 17. Variation, suspension and revocation of licences579 words
- 24B. Prohibition as to carrying of notified arms in or through public places in disturbed areas etc560 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.