MILITARY STORES (UNLAWFUL POSSESSION) ACT, 1944

26 of 1944

An Act to make special provision for the punishment of the Offence of unlawful possession of Military Stores. Whereas, it is expedient to provide for the punishment of the offence of unlawful possession of Military Stores; It is hereby enacted as follows.-

Section 1 Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Military Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1944.

(2) It extends to the 11. See the Mysore Adaptation of Laws Order, 1953 [whole of the State of Mysore except Bellary District.]

(3) It shall come into force at once.

Section 2 Definition

In this Act, "Military Stores" includes any article intended for use in the equipment of or for supply to the naval, military or air forces of His Majesty the King-Emperor or of any foreign power allied with His Majesty the King-Emperor, or of His Highness the Maharaja.

Section 3 Unlawful possession of military stores

Whoever is found or is proved to have been in possession of any article of military stores shall, if the Court sees reasonable grounds for believing such article to be or to have been the property of His Majesty the King-Emperor or of a foreign power allied with His Majesty, or of His Highness the Maharaja, as the case may be, unless he proves that the article came into his possession lawfully, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both.

Section 4 Repeal and savings

The Military Stores (Unlawful Possession) (Emergency) Act, 1943 (LV of 1943), continued by the Military Stores (Unlawful Possession) (Emergency Continuance) Act, 1944 (XIX of 1944) is hereby repealed. But any rules made, anything done and any action taken in exercise of any power conferred by or under the said Emergency Act shall be deemed to have been made, done or taken, in exercise of powers conferred by or under this Act, as if this Act had commenced on the 23rd day of November, 1943.