Detention and release
Full Text
(1) Every person detained in the civil prison in execution of a decree shall be so detained,—
(a) where the decree is for the payment of a sum of money exceeding five thousand rupees, for a period not exceeding three months, and,
(b) where the decree is for the payment of a sum of money exceeding two thousand rupees, but not exceeding five thousand rupees, for a period not exceeding six weeks.
(1A) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no order for detention of the judgment-debtor in civil prison in execution of a decree for the payment of money shall be made, where the total amount of the decree does not exceed two thousand rupees.
(2) A judgment-debtor released from detention under this section shall not merely by reason of his release be discharged from his debt, but he shall not be liable to be re-arrested under the decree in execution of which he was detained in the civil prison.
Plain English Summary
Section 58 prescribes the statutory maximum duration for civil imprisonment in execution of money decrees: up to 3 months for claims exceeding ₹5,000, up to 6 weeks for claims between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000, and an absolute bar against detention where the decree does not exceed ₹2,000. Release does not extinguish the debt, but the debtor enjoys absolute immunity against re-arrest under that decree.
Key Legal Elements
- Graduated Detention Durations: Maximum 3 months for decrees over ₹5,000; maximum 6 weeks for decrees between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000.
- Small Claims Immunity (Sec 58(1A)): Absolute statutory bar against civil imprisonment if decretal amount is ₹2,000 or less.
- Debt Remains Intact (Sec 58(2)): Release from civil prison does not satisfy, waive, or discharge the underlying judgment debt.
- Absolute Bar Against Re-Arrest: The judgment-debtor cannot be re-arrested under the same decree, channeling all future execution to property attachment.
Punishment
Civil prison: Up to 3 months (if decretal sum exceeds ₹5,000); up to 6 weeks (if between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000); no detention permitted if decree ≤ ₹2,000.
Practical Note
Detention Ceiling, Shield Against Re-Arrest & Debt Survival: (1) Absolute Re-Arrest Immunity: Once a debtor serves their period of civil detention (or is released under Sec 58), sub-section (2) creates an absolute jurisdictional bar against re-arrest under the same decree. (2) Decretal Debt Survives: Incarceration is a coercive remedy, not satisfaction of the decree; the decree-holder remains completely entitled to proceed against the debtor's movable, immovable, and financial assets under Section 60 and Order XXI. (3) Monetary Thresholds: Always check the decretal amount; any civil imprisonment warrant issued for ₹2,000 or less is per se illegal and void ab initio under Section 58(1A).
हिंदी पाठ
(1) किसी डिक्री के निष्पादन में सिविल कारागार में निरुद्ध प्रत्येक व्यक्ति इस प्रकार निरुद्ध किया जाएगा,—
(क) जहां डिक्री पांच हजार रुपये से अधिक की धनराशि के संदाय के लिए है, वहां तीन मास से अनधिक की अवधि के लिए, और
(ख) जहां डिक्री दो हजार रुपये से अधिक किंतु पांच हजार रुपये से अनधिक की धनराशि के संदाय के लिए है, वहां छह सप्ताह से अनधिक की अवधि के लिए।
(1क) शंकाओं को दूर करने के लिए एतद्द्वारा यह घोषित किया जाता है कि जहां डिक्री की कुल रकम दो हजार रुपये से अधिक नहीं है, वहां धन के संदाय की डिक्री के निष्पादन में सिविल कारागार में निर्णीत-ऋणी के निरोध का कोई आदेश नहीं दिया जाएगा।
(2) इस धारा के अधीन निरोध से छोड़ा गया निर्णीत-ऋणी केवल छोड़े जाने के कारण ही अपने ऋण से उन्मोचित (ऋणमुक्त) नहीं होगा, किंतु वह उस डिक्री के अधीन, जिसके निष्पादन में वह सिविल कारागार में निरुद्ध किया गया था, पुनः गिरफ्तार किए जाने का भागी नहीं होगा।