Medical Officer to certify the fitness of prisoner for punishment

(1) No punishment of penal diet, either singly or in combination, or hard labour under clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 66 of this Act shall be awarded to any prisoner until the prisoner has been examined by the Medical Officer and has been found fit to undergo the punishment and certified accordingly by the Medical Officer in the appropriate column of the punishment-book prescribed for this purpose. (2) If he considers the prisoner unfit to undergo the punishment, he shall in the like manner record his opinion in writing and shall state whether the prisoner is absolutely unfit for punishment of the kind or whether he considers any modification. (3) In the latter case he shall state what extent of punishment he thinks the prisoner can undergo without injury to his health.