Exemption from arrest under civil process
Full Text
(1) No Judge, Magistrate or other judicial officer shall be liable to arrest under civil process while going to, presiding in, or returning from, his Court.
(2) Where any matter is pending before a tribunal having jurisdiction therein, or believing in good faith that it has such jurisdiction, the parties thereto, their pleaders, mukhtars, revenue-agents and recognized agents, and their witnesses acting in obedience to a summons, shall be exempt from arrest under civil process other than process issued by such tribunal for contempt of Court while going to or attending such tribunal for the purpose of such matter, and while returning from such tribunal.
(3) Nothing in sub-section (2) shall enable a judgment-debtor to claim exemption from arrest under an order for immediate execution or where such judgment-debtor attends to show cause why he should not be committed to prison in execution of a decree.
Plain English Summary
Section 135 codifies the doctrine of privilege from civil arrest (eundo, morando, et redeundo) for Judges, judicial officers, advocates, parties, agents, and summoned witnesses while travelling to, attending, or returning from court or tribunal proceedings, subject to exceptions for contempt and show-cause execution hearings.
Key Legal Elements
- Judicial Officer Protection (Sub-section 1): Absolute immunity for Judges, Magistrates, and judicial officers from civil arrest while going to, presiding in, or returning from court.
- Litigant, Counsel & Witness Protection (Sub-section 2): Protects parties, advocates, pleaders, recognized agents, and summoned witnesses from civil arrest during transit to/from court and during proceedings.
- Contempt of Court Exception: Immunity does not shield against civil arrest warrants issued by the tribunal itself for contempt of court.
- Judgment-Debtor Exception (Sub-section 3): No exemption from immediate execution or when attending court specifically to show cause against civil prison committal under Order XXI Rule 37/40.
Punishment
Exemption from civil arrest during judicial duty or transit; contempt orders and immediate execution excepted.
Practical Note
The Doctrine of Privilege from Civil Arrest (Eundo, Morando, et Redeundo): 1. Rationale: Courts must have uninterrupted access to justice; litigants and witnesses must not be intimidated or deterred from appearing by fear of civil arrest (e.g. for debts). 2. Scope of In-Transit Protection: The exemption applies strictly to the direct and reasonable journey to and from the court. Deviating substantially for personal business or recreation forfeits the immunity. 3. Advocates and Agents Covered: Counsel, pleaders, and authorized agents appearing in active cases cannot be arrested under civil warrants (such as money decree civil prison warrants) while engaged in court duties. 4. Crucial Judgment-Debtor Exception (Section 135(3)): A judgment-debtor cannot weaponize this section when appearing pursuant to a show-cause notice under Order XXI Rule 37 (why he should not be detained in civil prison). If the executing court rejects his explanation, it can commit him immediately under Order XXI Rule 40 without Section 135 offering any shelter.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) कोई भी न्यायाधीश, मजिस्ट्रेट या अन्य न्यायिक अधिकारी अपने न्यायालय को जाने के दौरान, उसमें पीठासीन रहने के दौरान, या उससे लौटने के दौरान सिविल आदेशिका के अधीन गिरफ्तारी का दायी नहीं होगा।
(2) जहां कोई मामला ऐसी अधिकारिता रखने वाले (या सद्भावपूर्वक यह विश्वास करने वाले) किसी अधिकरण या न्यायालय के समक्ष लंबित है, वहां उसके पक्षकार, उनके प्लीडर, मुख्तार, राजस्व अभिकर्ता, मान्यताप्राप्त अभिकर्ता, और समन के अनुपालन में उपस्थित होने वाले साक्षीगण, ऐसे मामले के लिए न्यायालय/अधिकरण जाने, वहां उपस्थित रहने और वहां से लौटने के दौरान सिविल आदेशिका के अधीन गिरफ्तारी से छूट प्राप्त होंगे (सिवाय उस अधिकरण द्वारा न्यायालय की अवमानना के लिए जारी आदेशिका के)।
(3) उपधारा (2) की कोई भी बात किसी निर्णीत-ऋणी (Judgment-debtor) को अविलंब निष्पादन (Immediate Execution) के आदेश के अधीन, अथवा जहां ऐसा निर्णीत-ऋणी यह कारण दर्शित करने के लिए उपस्थित होता है कि उसे डिक्री के निष्पादन में सिविल कारागार क्यों न भेजा जाए, गिरफ्तारी से छूट का दावा करने का अधिकार नहीं देगी।