Is Khukri a leagal arm?

Question

Hi all !!

Is possessing a Khukri (a Nepali knife) of 10.5 inch blade against Indian Arms Act if the possessor is not a defense personnel ? If so what are the penalties?

Answer 1

Kukri (a Nepali Knife) of 10.5 inches blade is covered under the definition of Arms under The Arms Act, 1959 section 2 (c) "arms" means articles of any description designed or adapted as weapons for offences, or defense, and includes firearms, sharp-edged and other deadly weapons, and parts of, and machinery for manufacturing arms, but does not include articles designated solely for domestic or agricultural uses such as a lathi or an ordinary walking stick and weapons incapable of being used otherwise than as toys or being converted into serviceable weapons.
As far possessing such an arm a license may be required as provided under section 4 of the Arms Act License for acquisition and possession of arms of specified description in certain cases – If the Central Government is of opinion that having regard to the circumstances prevailing in any area it is necessary or expedient in the public interest that the acquisition, possession or carrying of arms other than firearms should also be regulated, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that this section shall apply to the area specified in the notification and thereupon no person shall acquire, have in his possession or carry in that area arms of such class or description as may be specified in that notification unless he holds in this behalf a license issued in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under.
The best course for you to do is contact the nearest police station where to reside & enquire regarding the license for such arm is required or not as per section 4 of the Act. If there is a governmental notification in the Official Gazette with regards to such license of such arm apply for it under the provisions of the Arms Act. Any failure to get the licence can be punished under section 26 of this Act which provides whoever does any act in contravention of any of the provisions of section 3,4,10 or 12 in such manner as to indicate an intention that such act may not be known to any public servant or to any person employed or working upon a railway, aircraft, vessel, vehicle or any other means or conveyance, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven years and also with fine.