Vidhi Codex

THE PRISONS ACT, 1894

The Prision Act 1894

General189462 sections

The Prisons Act, 1894 provides the legal framework for managing prisons and maintaining order within custody across India. It applies to prison officials, visitors, and all detained individuals, including civil prisoners, under-trial accused persons, and convicted criminals. The law regulates jail administration, outlining the responsibilities of superintendents, jailors, and medical officers. It mandates proper living conditions, medical care, record-keeping, and the strict segregation of prisoners based on gender, age, and legal status. By standardizing rules for prison labor, visitor access, discipline, and punishments for misconduct, the legislation ensures safe, organized, and accountable custodial operations.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Title, extent and commencement
  2. 2. Repealed
  3. 3. Definitions
  4. 4. Accommodation for prisoners
  5. 5. Inspector General
  6. 6. Officers of prisons
  7. 7. Temporary accommodation for prisoners
  8. 8. Control and duties of officers of prisons
  9. 9. Officers not to have business dealings with prisoners
  10. 10. Officers not to be interested in prison contracts
  11. 11. Superintendent
  12. 12. Records to be kept by Superintendent
  13. 13. Duties of Medical Officer
  14. 14. Medical Officer's report
  15. 15. Report on death of prisoner
  16. 16. Jailor
  17. 17. Jailor to give notice of death of prisoner
  18. 18. Responsibility of Jailor
  19. 19. Jailor to be present at night
  20. 20. Powers of Deputy and Assistant Jailors
  21. 21. Subordinate officers acting as gate-keeper
  22. 22. Officers subordinate to the Jailor
  23. 23. Convicted prisoners
  24. 24. Prisoners on admission
  25. 25. Effects of prisoners
  26. 26. Removal and discharge of prisoners
  27. 27. Separation of prisoners
  28. 28. Association and segregation of prisoners
  29. 29. Solitary confinement
  30. 30. Prisoners under sentence of death
  31. 31. Maintenance of certain prisoners from private sources
  32. 32. Restriction on transfer of food and clothing between certain prisoners
  33. 33. Supply of clothing and bedding to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners
  34. 34. Employment of civil prisoners
  35. 35. Employment of criminal prisoners
  36. 36. Employment of criminal prisoners sentenced to simple imprisonment
  37. 37. Sick prisoners
  38. 38. Record of directions of Medical Officer.
  39. 39. Hospital
  40. 39-B. Punishment for escape or attempt to escape from hospital or asylum.
  41. 39-C. Provisions applicable to bonds referred to in section 39-A.
  42. 39A. Power of Superintendent to send prisoner to hospital for special treatment
  43. 40. Visits to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners.
  44. 41. Search of visitors.
  45. 42. Penalty for introduction or removal of prohibited articles into or from prison and communication with prisoners.
  46. 43. Power to arrest for offence under section 42.
  47. 44. Publication of penalties.
  48. 45. Prison offences.
  49. 46. Punishment of such offences
  50. 47. Plurality of punishments
  51. 48. Award of punishment under section 46 and 47
  52. 49. Punishment to be in accordance with foregoing sections
  53. 50. Medical Officers to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment
  54. 51. Entries in punishment book
  55. 52. Procedure on committal of heinous offences
  56. 53. Omitted
  57. 54. Offences of prison subordinates
  58. 55. Extramural custody, control and employment of prisoner
  59. 56. Confinement in irons
  60. 57. Confinement of prisoners under sentence of transportation in irons
  61. 58. Prisoners not to be ironed by Jailor except under necessity
  62. 59. Power to make rules

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