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Arms Act, 1959 · Chapter II: Acquisition, Possession, Manufacture, Sale, Import, Export and Transport of Arms and Ammunition

Section 8: Prohibition of sale or transfer of firearms not bearing identification marks

(1) No person shall obliterate, remove, alter or forge any name, number or other identification mark stamped or otherwise shown on a [firearm or ammunition]. firearm.

(2) No person shall sell or transfer any firearm which does not bear the name of the maker, manufacturers number or other identification mark stamped or otherwise shown thereon in a manner approved by the Central Government.

(3) Whenever any person has in his possession any firearm without such name, number or other identification mark or on which such name, number or other identification mark has been obliterated, removed, altered or forged, it shall be presumed unless the contrary is proved, that he has obliterated, removed, altered or forged that name, number or other identification mark:

Provided that in relation to a person who has in his possession at the commencement of this Act any firearm without such name, number or other identification mark stamped or otherwise shown thereon, the provisions of this sub-section shall not take effect until after the expiration of one year from such commencement

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 8

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