Punishment for possessing or using mobile phones and other contraband

Punishment for possessing or using mobile phones and other contraband.-

1. (1) Prison inmates are forbidden from possessing or using mobile phones and other electronic communication devices in prisons. Whoever, being a prisoner or a visitor or a prison official, in contravention of any provisions of the Act or rules made thereunder, is found possessing or using such devices or introduces or removes or attempts by any means whatsoever, to introduce or remove into or from any prison or supplies or attempts to supply to any prisoner, any prohibited article, and every officer or staff of a prison who, contrary to any such rule, knowingly allows any such article to be introduced into or removed from any prison, to be possessed by any prisoner or to be supplied to any prisoner and whoever, contrary to any such rule, communicates or attempts to communicate with any prisoner, and whoever abets any offence made punishable by this section, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or fine not exceeding twenty five thousand rupees, or both.
2. (2) Whoever, being a prisoner or a visitor, or a prison official, is found in possession of, or operating or using, an electronic device or a wireless communication device or any of its ancillaries or components, or if any such person is found to be assisting or abetting or instigating in the supply thereof, or if any such person is found to be manipulating, damaging or destroying any equipment in the prison, electronic or otherwise, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to imprisonment for a minimum period of two years which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees or with both.
3. (3) The prisoner shall undergo the sentence awarded under sub-section
4. (1) or sub-section
5. (2) above on completion of any sentence if already undergoing.
6. (4) The offences mentioned in sub-sections
7. (1) and
8. (2) above, shall be cognizable and non-bailable.