s 58 Offences relating to firearms, ammunition and explosives
58.—(1) Any person who without lawful excuse, the onus of proving which shall be on such person, in any security area carries or has in his possession or under his control —(a) any firearm without lawful authority therefor; or (b) any ammunition or explosive without lawful authority therefor, shall be guilty of an offence under this Part and shall be liable on conviction to be punished with death. (2) A person shall be deemed to have lawful authority for the purposes of this section only if he —(a) is a police officer or a member of the security forces, or any person employed in the Prisons Department, and in every such case is carrying or is in possession of or has under his control such firearm, ammunition or explosive in or in connection with the performance of his duty; (b) is a person duly licensed, or authorised without a licence, under the provisions of any written law for the time being in force to carry, possess or have under his control such firearm, ammunition or explosive; or (c) is a person exempted from this section by an officer in charge of a division, or is a member of any class of persons so exempted by the Commissioner of Police by notification in the Gazette:Provided that no person shall be deemed to have lawful authority for the purposes of this section or to be exempt from this section if he carries or has in his possession or under his control any such firearm, ammunition or explosive for the purpose of using the same in a manner prejudicial to public security or the maintenance of public order. (3) A person shall be deemed to have lawful excuse for the purposes of this section only if he proves —(a) that he acquired such firearm, ammunition or explosive in a lawful manner and for a lawful purpose; and (b) that he has not at any time while carrying or having in his possession or under his control such firearm, ammunition or explosive acted in a manner prejudicial to public security or the maintenance of public order. (4) A person charged with an offence under this section shall not be granted bail.