Penalty for default
Full Text
The Court may compel the attendance of any person to whom a summons has been issued under section 30 and for that purpose may—
(a) issue a warrant for his arrest;
(b) attach and sell his property;
(c) impose a fine upon him not exceeding five thousand rupees;
(d) order him to furnish security for his appearance and in default commit him to the civil prison.
Plain English Summary
Section 32 arms civil courts with coercive enforcement powers to compel the attendance of any person summoned under Section 30, authorizing the issuance of an arrest warrant, attachment and sale of property, imposition of a fine up to ₹5,000, and committal to civil prison for failing to furnish appearance security.
Key Legal Elements
- Condition Precedent: Summons must have been duly issued and served under Section 30/31.
- Bailable/Non-Bailable Warrant (Sec 32(a)): Authority to issue an arrest warrant to secure physical attendance.
- Property Attachment & Sale (Sec 32(b)): Power to attach and sell property to enforce compliance (Order XVI Rule 10).
- Pecuniary Penalty (Sec 32(c)): Imposition of a fine not exceeding ₹5,000 for willful disobedience.
- Security & Civil Prison (Sec 32(d)): Requirement of appearance security with committal to civil prison upon default.
Punishment
Civil imprisonment on default of furnishing appearance security; fine up to ₹5,000; arrest warrant; property attachment & sale (Sec 32)
Practical Note
Coercive mechanisms to enforce witness and document subpoenas: (1) Procedural Safeguards (Order XVI Rules 10-13): Section 32 cannot be invoked arbitrarily. The court must first verify that summons was duly served under Section 27/28/31, reasonable diet money/travel expenses were tendered, and the witness defaulted without lawful excuse before issuing arrest warrants or attaching assets. (2) Enhanced Fine: The 2002 amendment enhanced the pecuniary fine ceiling under clause (c) from ₹500 to ₹5,000 to deter recalcitrant witnesses or official document custodians. (3) Attachment & Sale (Order XVI Rule 10): Property attachment operates up to the estimated fine and process costs; if the person appears and explains the default satisfactorily, attachment is released under Rule 11. (4) Civil Prison Conditionality: Detention under clause (d) is invoked strictly when the witness defaults on furnishing security for appearance.
हिंदी पाठ
न्यायालय किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति की उपसंस्थिति (हाजिरी) विवश कर सकेगा जिसे धारा 30 के अधीन समन निकाला गया है और उस प्रयोजन के लिए—
(क) उसकी गिरफ्तारी के लिए वारंट निकाल सकेगा;
(ख) उसकी संपत्ति की कुर्की और विक्रय कर सकेगा;
(ग) उस पर पांच हजार रुपये से अनधिक का जुर्माना अधिरोपित कर सकेगा;
(घ) उसे अपनी उपसंस्थिति के लिए प्रतिभूति देने का आदेश दे सकेगा और व्यतिक्रम (चूक) होने पर उसे सिविल कारागार में सुपुर्द कर सकेगा।