Prohibition of acquisition or possession by, or of sale or transfer to, young persons and certain other persons of firearms, etc
Section 9 of the Arms Act, 1959 deals with prohibition of acquisition or possession by, or of sale or transfer to, young persons and certain other persons of firearms, etc. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Act, (a) no person,-- (i) who has not completed the age of [twenty-one years], or (ii) who has been sentenced on conviction of any offence involving violence or moral turpitude to imprisonment for [any term], at any time during a period of The Act came into force on 01 Oct 1962.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Act,
(a) no person,--
(i) who has not completed the age of 1[twenty-one years], or
(ii) who has been sentenced on conviction of any offence involving violence or moral turpitude to imprisonment for 2[any term], at any time during a period of five years after the expiration of the sentence, or
(iii) who has been ordered to execute under Chapter VIII of the 3[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),] a bond for keeping the peace or for good behaviour, at any time during the term of the bond,
shall acquire, have in his possession or carry any firearm or ammunition;
(b) no person shall sell or transfer any firearm or ammunition to, or convert, repair, test or prove any firearm or ammunition for, any other person whom he knows, or has reason to believe--
(i) to be prohibited under clause (a) from acquiring, having in his possession or carrying any firearm or ammunition, or
(ii) to be of unsound mind at the time of such sale or transfer, or such conversion, repair, test or proof.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1), a person who has attained the prescribed age-limit may use under prescribed conditions such firearms as may be prescribed in the course of his training in the use of such firearms:
Provided that different age-limits may be prescribed in relation to different types of firearms.
Section 9, 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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Aftab S/o Shri Abdul Kalam vs State of Rajasthan
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When an accused is charged with serious offences like attempted murder but the actual injury caused is simple in nature, and the investigation has been completed with challan filed, bail may be granted by the High Court under Section 439 CrPC, particularly when the accused has already undergone substantial custody, provided the trial court is satisfied with bail conditions.
On this section: Illegal possession of firearms; charge related to alleged use of weapon in the incident
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.
Made under this section, and citing it
3 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.
Another 3 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 9
What have the courts held on Section 9 of the Arms Act?
Aftab S/o Shri Abdul Kalam vs State of Rajasthan (18 Dec 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Illegal possession of firearms; charge related to alleged use of weapon in the incident.
How do I find court cases under Section 9 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 9, section 9 Arms Act, section 9 of the Arms Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Aftab S/o Shri Abdul Kalam vs State of Rajasthan (18 Dec 2019).
What should I read with Section 9 of the Arms Act, and has it changed?
2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 3: most recently Arms Rules, 2016 (2016), then G.S.R. 701(E) dated 15/07/2019 on Arms Rules 2016 (2016), and 1 more.
When did Section 9 of the Arms Act come into force?
Section 9 of the Arms Act, cited as Arms Act 9, 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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.