with a specific object, purpose and scheme cannot be applied mechanically to another statute with different objects, purpose and scheme. The Arms Act, 1959 was enacted by the Parliament to regulate classification of arms by classifying the different equipment and items, which were declared as arms in colonial era under the Arms Act, 1878. The Act, 1878 was intended to disarm the entire country. The Parliament, after independence noticed that the Arms Act and the rules made thereunder, if allowed to be continued, it would be different for law abiding citizens to possess fire-arms for self-defence vis-a-vis terrorist, dacoits, dacoits gangs, anti-social and anti-national elements who are using those arms. The legislature also intended to bring out several sharp-edged items from the ambit of “arms” which are essentially domestic equipment. The object of the Act, 1959 being absolutely different than the Act, 2008, it would not be appropriate to accept the definition of arms given therein ipse dixit in the instant matter and it would also be appropriate to look into the definition of “air-gun”, “airpistol” and “pellet guns” as available in different dictionaries and the literature relevant.
