1[Malabar War-Knives Act, 1854]
| [Act 24 of 1854] | [28th October, 1854] |
| [Repealed by Act 56 of 1974, Section 2 and Schedule I.] | [28th October, 1854] |
An Act to prohibit the possession of certain offensive weapons in Malabar
Whereas it is expedient to prohibit the possession of certain offensive weapons in the District of Malabar, in the Presidency of Fort St. George; It is enacted as follows:-
1 Short title given by the Amending Act, 1901 (11 of 1901).
1. Use of war-knives prohibited.-The use of the ayudha katti or war-knife, or of any similar offensive weapon, is hereby prohibited throughout the District of Malabar 1[* * *].
1 Certain words providing for the surrender of weapons by a certain date repealed by Act 14 of 1870.
2. Fine for possessing, purchasing, etc., war-knives.-1[* * *] Any person who shall be found in possession of any ayudha katti or war-knife or of a similar offensive weapon, or who shall purchase, or sell, or manufacture, or cause to be manufactured, any ayudha katti or war-knife or similar weapon, shall be liable, on conviction before a Magistrate, to a fine not exceeding fifty rupees, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a period not exceeding six months, or to both; and the said war-knife or weapon shall be confiscated.
1 The words "After such date" repealed by Act 14 of 1870.
3. Power to search for war-knives.-It shall be lawful for the Magistrate of Malabar to cause search to be made by his Police-officers, acting under his warrant, in any house or other place in which any ayudha katti or war-knife, or any similar offensive weapon, may be supposed to be, contrary to this Act; and any such ayudha katti or war-knife which shall be found may be seized and confiscated.
It shall also be competent to the Magistrate, at his discretion, to delegate to any of his 1[* * *] Assistants the powers conferred by this section.
Penalty for resisting search.-Any person who shall resist or oppose such search or seizure, or forcibly withstand any Police-officer charged with such warrant, shall be liable to the same penalties as if such person had opposed or resisted the execution of a warrant for the search after stolen goods.
1 The word "European" was repealed by the A.O. 1950.