District Magistrate, Karaikal, do hereby Order that all the arms licence holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately, latest by 02-03-2021.

Registered No. PY/44/2021-23 Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. 10410 Amflºƒˆ \VWÈ ∂´E>µ La Gazette de L' État de Poudouchéry The Gazette of Puducherry

PART - I

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No. 45 Poudouchéry Mercredi 3 Mars 2021 (12 Phalguna 1942)

No. Puducherry Wednesday 3rd March 2021

GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

IN THE COURT OF THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AT KARAIKAL

Present : ARJUN SHARMA, I.A.S.,

District Magistrate, Karaikal.

M.C. No. 1, dated 26-02-2021

ORDER

(UNDER SECTION 144 OF Cr. P.C. 1973)

Whereas, the Election Commission of India has announced on 26-02-2021, that the General Elections to Puducherry Legislative Assembly, 2021 will be held on 06-04-2021 and as soon as this announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect;

And whereas, the Election Commission of India, issued instructions that District Magistrate shall make a detailed and individual review and assessment of all licensed arms holders, so that licensed arms in those cases, where they consider it essential are impounded in order to ensure maintenance of law and order, so essential for ensuring free and fair elections;

And whereas, the Election Commission of India, also instructed that prohibitory order under section 144 of Cr.P.C., 1973, shall be issued banning the carrying of licensed arms as soon as an election is announced and should be effective till the declaration of results;

And whereas, it appears to me that carrying of fire arms, firm arms, spears, swords, sticks, brickbats, lathis and other weapons by the public during the election period is likely to lead to breach of peace and threat to peaceful conduct of elections in the District of Karaikal of Union territory of Puducherry;

And whereas, in my opinion there is sufficient ground for proceeding under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to prohibit the action mentioned in para (4) which may be detrimental to public peace and tranquility and may pose threat to peaceful conduct of free and fair elections;

And whereas, all the Station House Officers, shall make a detailed and individual review and assessment of all licensed holders and all the arms licensed holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately and in any case before 02-03-2021. If, the individual licence holder fails to deposit their arms, the Station House Officer shall impound it. The Station House Officer shall furnish a detailed report on such deposit and seizure;

And whereas, this ban shall not be applicable to those communities, who are entitled to display weapons by long standing law, custom and usage and also to those Nationalised/Private Banks, where arms are necessary to safeguard cash chest. However, individual exemption order shall have to be obtained immediately;

Now, therefore, I, ARJUN SHARMA, I.A.S., District Magistrate, Karaikal, do hereby :

(1) Order that all the arms licence holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately, latest by 02-03-2021.

(2) Prohibit possession and carrying of any kind of spears, swords, sticks, brickbats, lathis and other weapons by the general public in the District of Karaikal with immediate effect.

Karaikal, dated the 26th day of February 2021.

ARJUN SHARMA, I.A.S., District Magistrate.

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