Under Section 22 of the Arms Act, 1959, the power of search and seizure of arms and ammunition is…

Under Section 22(1) of the Arms Act, 1959, whenever any magistrate has reason to believe that any person residing within the local limits of his jurisdiction has in his possession any arms or ammunition for any unlawful purpose, or that such person cannot be left in the possession of any arms or ammunition without danger to the public peace or safety, the magistrate may, after having recorded the reasons for his belief, cause a search to be made and seize and detain the arms or ammunition. Because this preventive function is administrative or executive in nature, it is exercisable by an Executive Magistrate under Section 3(2)(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 3(4)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973).