Section 12: Duration and renewal of licence

12. Duration and renewal of licence (1) A firearm licence shall, unless, previously suspended or cancelled, continue to be in force until 31 December next following the date when it was issued or last renewed, but shall, subject to subsection (3), be renewable for yearly periods ending 31 December. (2) On every application for renewal of a firearm licence, the applicant shall produce— (a) the firearm and any ammunition in respect of which the firearm licence was granted; (b) such firearm licence book as may be issued by the Commissioner; and (c) his Competency Certificate. (3) Subject to subsection (1), a person who fails to renew a firearm licence before the expiry of his licence shall, on renewal, be liable to a surcharge equivalent to 50 per cent of the fee payable in respect of such licence. (4) Where a person fails to renew a firearm licence within 15 days of the expiry of his licence, the licence shall lapse and he shall forthwith surrender the firearm and ammunition in respect of which the licence was granted to the Commissioner. (5) Any firearm and ammunition surrendered pursuant to subsection (4) shall remain in the custody of the Commissioner until a new firearm licence is issued in respect of the firearm and ammunition. F14 – 7 [Issue 1] Firearms Act (6) Any person who fails to produce his firearm and ammunition in compliance with subsection (4) shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 200,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. (7) Where any firearm or ammunition surrendered under subsection (4) has remained unclaimed for a period of 3 years from the date of expiry of the licence, the firearm shall become the property of the State and be disposed of in such manner as the Commissioner deems fit.