Vidhi Codex

The Karnataka Prisons Act, 1963

The Karnataka Prisons Act, 1963

Criminal196370 sections13 chapters

This legislation regulates the administration, safety, and operational standards of correctional facilities across the State of Karnataka. It applies to prison administrators, correctional officers, medical staff, and all detained individuals, including convicted criminals, unconvicted detainees, and civil prisoners. The law establishes administrative structures, outlines specific duties for jail officials, mandates health and sanitary safeguards, and governs the classification and separation of inmates based on gender, age, and legal status. Furthermore, it establishes rules regarding prisoner labor, disciplinary procedures, prohibited items, temporary release, and parole. This statute matters because it ensures orderly prison management while safeguarding the legal rights, safety, and basic welfare of incarcerated individuals.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II MAINTENANCE AND OFFICERS OF PRISONS →

  1. 3Inspector-General
  2. 4Officers of prisons
  3. 5Accommodation for prisoners
  4. 6Temporary accommodation

Chapter III DUTIES OF OFFICERS →

  1. 7Control and duties of officers of prisons
  2. 8Officers not to have business dealings with prisoners
  3. 9Officers not to be interested in prison contracts
  4. 10Superintendent
  5. 11Records to be kept by Superintendent
  6. 12Duties of Medical Officer
  7. 13Medical Officer to report in certain cases
  8. 14Report on the death of prisoner
  9. 15Jailer
  10. 16Jailer to give notice of death of prisoner
  11. 17Responsibilities of Jailer
  12. 18Jailer to be present at night
  13. 19Powers of Deputy and Assistant Jailers
  14. 20Duties of gatekeeper
  15. 21Subordinate officers not to be absent without leave
  16. 22Convict officers

Chapter IV ADMISSION, REMOVAL AND DISCHARGE OF PRISONERS →

  1. 23Prisoners to be examined on admission
  2. 24Effects of prisoners
  3. 25Removal and discharge of prisoners

Chapter V DISCIPLINE OF PRISONERS →

  1. 26Separation of prisoners
  2. 27Association and segregation of prisoners
  3. 28Solitary confinement
  4. 29Prisoners under sentence of death

Chapter VI FOOD, CLOTHING AND BEDDING OF CIVIL AND UNCONVICTED →

  1. 30Maintenance of certain prisoners from private sources
  2. 31Restrictions on transfer of food and clothing between certain prisoners
  3. 32Supply of clothing and bedding to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners

Chapter VII EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS →

  1. 33Employment of civil prisoners
  2. 34Employment of criminal prisoners
  3. 35Employment of criminal prisoners sentenced to simple imprisonment

Chapter VIII HEALTH OF PRISONERS →

  1. 36Sick prisoners
  2. 37Record of directions of Medical Officers
  3. 38Hospital
  4. 39Power of Superintendent to send a prisoner to hospital or asylum for special treatment

Chapter IX VISITORS TO PRISONERS →

  1. 40Visitors to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners
  2. 41Search of visitors

Chapter X OFFENCES IN RELATION TO PRISONS →

  1. 42Penalty for introduction or removal of prohibited articles, into or from prisons and communication with prisoners
  2. 43Power to arrest for offence under section 42
  3. 44Publication of penalties

Chapter XI PRISON OFFENCES →

  1. 45Prison offences
  2. 46Punishment of offences under section 45
  3. 47Plurality of punishment under section 46
  4. 48Award for punishment under section 46 and section 47
  5. 49Punishment for breach of conditions of suspension of sentence, etc.
  6. 50Punishment to be in accordance with the foregoing except by order of a competent court
  7. 51Medical Officer to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment
  8. 52Entries in punishment books
  9. 53Procedure on committal of heinous offence
  10. 54Offences by prison subordinates

Chapter XII TEMPORARY RELEASE OF PRISONERS →

  1. 55Power to release certain prisoners temporarily
  2. 56Release on parole
  3. 57Prisoner to surrender himself on the expiration of the period otherwise liable to be arrested
  4. 58Penalty for failure to surrender

Chapter XIII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 59Extra mural custody, control and employment of prisoners
  2. 60Confinement in irons
  3. 61Confinement in irons of prisoners under sentence of imprisonment for life
  4. 62Prisoners not to be put in irons by Jailer except under necessity
  5. 63Power to make rules
  6. 64Rules and notifications to be laid before the State Legislature
  7. 65Exhibition of copies of Rules
  8. 66Exercise of powers of Superintendent and Medical officers
  9. 67Repeal and savings
  10. 68Removal of difficulties

PDF: pending for this language.