Sentence of imprisonment in default of fine
Full Text
(1) The Court of a Magistrate may award such term of imprisonment in default of payment of fine as is authorised by law: Provided that the term— (a) is not in excess of the powers of the Magistrate under section 23; (b) shall not, where imprisonment has been awarded as part of the substantive sentence, exceed one-fourth of the term of imprisonment which the Magistrate is competent to inflict as punishment for the offence otherwise than as imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
(2) The imprisonment awarded under this section may be in addition to a substantive sentence of imprisonment for the maximum term awardable by the Magistrate under section 23.
Plain English Summary
Lays down the rules for awarding imprisonment if a convict fails to pay a fine, limiting it to one-fourth of the magistrate's maximum sentencing power.
Key Legal Elements
- Magistrate can award imprisonment for default of payment of fine.
- Default sentence cannot exceed the magistrate's powers under Section 23.
- Limitation: Default imprisonment cannot exceed 1/4th of the magistrate's competent sentencing term for that offence.
- Default imprisonment can be added on top of a maximum substantive sentence.
Practical Note
If a fine is not paid, the additional jail time cannot exceed 1/4th of the maximum term the magistrate is allowed to give for that offence.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) मजिस्ट्रेट का न्यायालय जुर्माने के भुगतान में चूक की स्थिति में कारावास की ऐसी अवधि दे सकता है जो कानून द्वारा अधिकृत है: बशर्ते कि वह अवधि— (क) धारा 23 के तहत मजिस्ट्रेट की शक्तियों से अधिक न हो; (ख) जहां कारावास को मूल सजा के हिस्से के रूप में दिया गया है, वहां उस कारावास की अवधि के एक-चौथाई से अधिक नहीं होगी जिसे मजिस्ट्रेट जुर्माने के भुगतान में चूक के अलावा अपराध के लिए दंड के रूप में देने के लिए सक्षम है।
(2) इस धारा के तहत दिया गया कारावास धारा 23 के तहत मजिस्ट्रेट द्वारा दिए जाने वाले अधिकतम कारावास की मूल सजा के अतिरिक्त हो सकता है।