Section 13 of the Arms Act, 1959: Grant of Arms Licences
Section 13 of the Arms Act, 1959 lays down the statutory framework for applying for and granting licences under Chapter II of the Act. It covers the application, police verification, inquiry by the licensing authority, cases where a licence shall be granted, and the requirement of a good reason in other specified cases.
Text of Section 13 of the Arms Act, 1959
13. Grant of licences.
(1) An application for the grant of a licence under Chapter II shall be made to the licensing authority and shall be in such form, contain such particulars and be accompanied by such fee, if any, as may be prescribed.
(2) On receipt of an application, the licensing authority shall call for the report of the officer in charge of the nearest police station on that application, and such officer shall send his report within the prescribed time.
(2A) The licensing authority, after such inquiry, if any, as it may consider necessary, and after considering the report received under sub-section (2), shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, by order in writing either grant the licence or refuse to grant the same.
Proviso. Where the officer in charge of the nearest police station does not send the report within the prescribed time, the licensing authority may, if it deems fit, make an order after expiry of that time without further waiting for the report.
(3) The licensing authority shall grant-
(a) a licence under section 3 where the licence is required-
(i) by a citizen of India in respect of a smooth bore gun having a barrel of not less than twenty inches in length to be used for protection or sport, or in respect of a muzzle loading gun to be used for bona fide crop protection:
Provided that where the licensing authority is satisfied that a muzzle loading gun will not be sufficient for crop protection, it may grant a licence in respect of another smooth bore gun as specified in the provision for such protection; or
(ii) in respect of a point 22 bore rifle or an air rifle to be used for target practice by a member of a rifle club or rifle association licensed or recognised by the Central Government;
(b) a licence under section 3 in any other case, or a licence under section 4, section 5, section 6, section 10 or section 12, if the licensing authority is satisfied that the person by whom the licence is required has a good reason for obtaining the same.
Sub-sections (2) and (2A) were substituted by the Arms (Amendment) Act, 1983 with effect from 22 June 1983.
Application for an Arms Licence under Section 13(1)
An application must be made to the competent licensing authority in the prescribed form with the prescribed particulars and fee. The detailed procedural requirements are contained in the Arms Rules, 2016, including the prescribed application forms and supporting information.
The application is not decided under Section 13 alone. It is also subject to the eligibility, refusal, licence category and procedural provisions contained elsewhere in the Arms Act and the Arms Rules, 2016.
Police Report and Verification under Section 13(2)
After receiving an application, the licensing authority must call for a report from the officer in charge of the nearest police station.
Rule 14 of the Arms Rules, 2016 requires the police report to be sent in Form S-4 within 30 days from the date the application is received by the police station. The Central Government may, by general or special order, extend that period up to 90 days for specified areas or States.
If the police report is not received within the prescribed period, Section 13(2A) and Rule 14 allow the licensing authority to proceed and pass an order without waiting indefinitely for the report.
Decision by the Licensing Authority under Section 13(2A)
The licensing authority may conduct such inquiry as it considers necessary and must consider the police report where received. It must then pass a written order granting or refusing the licence, subject to the other provisions of Chapter III.
Rule 13 of the Arms Rules, 2016 requires the licensing authority, after considering the application and being satisfied that the eligibility conditions are fulfilled, to grant or refuse a licence for permissible-category arms or ammunition by a speaking order within 60 days of receipt of the police report.
Cases Where Section 13 Says the Licensing Authority Shall Grant a Licence
Section 13(3)(a) identifies specified cases in which the statute uses the expression "shall grant", subject to the other provisions of the Act.
- a qualifying smooth bore gun for protection or sport;
- a muzzle loading gun for bona fide crop protection, with the statutory proviso concerning another smooth bore gun where the muzzle loader is insufficient; and
- a point 22 bore rifle or an air rifle for target practice by a member of a rifle club or rifle association licensed or recognised by the Central Government.
These provisions must still be read with Section 14, which specifies grounds on which a licence must or may be refused.
The "Good Reason" Requirement under Section 13(3)(b)
For a licence under Section 3 in other cases, or a licence under Sections 4, 5, 6, 10 or 12, the licensing authority must be satisfied that the applicant has a good reason for obtaining the licence.
The phrase "good reason" is not separately defined in Section 13. Its application depends on the nature of the licence sought, the facts stated by the applicant, the applicable category of arms or ammunition, the Arms Rules, 2016 and the restrictions in the Act.
Current Arms Rules, 2016 Timelines
| Stage | Current rule | Time period |
|---|---|---|
| Police report | Rule 14 | 30 days from receipt by the police station; may be extended by Central Government order up to 90 days for specified areas or States |
| Licensing authority decision | Rule 13 | Speaking order within 60 days of receipt of the police report for permissible-category arms or ammunition, subject to the rule |
Official Legal Sources
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026.