The Prisons Act, 1894
An Act to extend the Indian Easements Act, 1882, to certain areas in which that Act is not in force.
Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of States · Other Acts of 1894
Preamble
THE PRISONS ACT, 1894
ACT NO. 9 OF 18941
[22nd March, 1894] An Act to amend the law relating to Prisons.
WHEREAS, it is expedient to amend the law relating to prisons in 2 [India except the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States], and to provide rules for the regulation of such prison; It is hereby enacted as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of Prisons Act, 1894
Key Details
• Title: The Prisons Act, 1894
• Enactment & Commencement Dates: Not specified in the new context (refer to original for potential details)
• Extent & Modifications: Applies with variations across multiple Indian states and territories (e.g., Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh) as per notifications (e.g., S.O. 3912 (E), dated 30th October, 2019)
•
Provisions Summary
1. Cross-References to Other Acts:
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: Applies in relation to the examination on commission of persons confined in prisons.
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898/1973: References for recovery of fines and other procedural aspects.
• Prisons Act, 1894, in other contexts: Regulates aspects like labour, discipline, and visitor regulations in military/air force prisons.
2. Prison and Prisoner Management Hints: - Regulation and Management: Implied through the power to make rules (e.g., Section 177 in related acts) for governance, labour, and discipline in prisons.
• Financial Aspects: Mention of costs, charges, and remission based on industry and good conduct (inferred from related acts' contexts).
3. Limitations and Rights: - Restriction on Corporal Punishment: Rules cannot authorise corporal punishment or make imprisonment more severe than in civil prisons (Section 178 in a related act).
• Access and Communication: Provision for prisoners to communicate with desired persons and consult legal advisers (inferred from related acts).
Sections
Type to filter. 62 sections.
- 1Title, extent and commencement
- 2[Repealed.]
- 3Definitions
- 4Accommodation for prisoners
- 5Inspector General
- 6Officers of prisons
- 7Temporary accommodation for prisoners
- 8Control and duties of officers of prisons
- 9Officers not to have business dealings with prisoners
- 10Officers not to be interested in prison-contracts
- 11Superintendent
- 12Records to be kept by Superintendent
- 13Duties of Medical Officer
- 14Medical Officer to report in certain cases
- 15Report on death of prisoner
- 16Jailer
- 17Jailer to give notice of death of prisoner
- 18Responsibility of Jailer
- 19Jailer to be present at night
- 20Powers of Deputy and Assistant Jailers
- 21Duties of gate-keeper
- 22Subordinate officers not to be absent without leave
- 23Convict officers
- 24Prisoners to be examined on admission
- 25Effects of prisoners
- 26Removal and discharge of prisoners
- 27Separation of prisoners
- 28Association and segregation of prisoners
- 29Solitary confinement
- 30Prisoners under sentence of death
- 31Maintenance of certain prisoners from private sources
- 32Restriction on transfer of food and clothing between certain prisoners
- 33Supply of clothing and bedding to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners
- 34Employment of civil prisoners
- 35Employment of criminal prisoners
- 36Employment of criminal prisoners sentenced to simple imprisonment
- 37Sick prisoners
- 38Record of directions of Medical Officers
- 39Hospital
- 40Visits to civil and unconvicted criminal prisoners
- 41Search of visitors
- 42Penalty for introduction or removal of prohibited articles into or from prison and communication with prisoners
- 43Power to arrest for offence under section
- 44Publication of penalties
- 45Prison-offences
- 46Punishment of such offences
- 47Plurality of punishments under section 46
- 48Award of punishments under sections 46 and 47
- 49Punishments to be in accordance with foregoing sections
- 50Medical Officer to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment
- 51Entries in punishment-books
- 52Procedure on committal of heinous offence
- 53Whipping
- 54Offences by prison-subordinates
- 55Extramural custody, control and employment of prisoners
- 56Confinement in irons
- 57Confinement of prisoners under sentence of transportation in irons
- 58Prisoners not to be ironed by Jailer except under necessity
- 59Power to make rules
- 60[Repealed.]
- 61Exhibition of copies of rules
- 62Exercise of powers of Superintendent and Medical Officer
Schedules
This Act has 1 schedule. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.
- THE SCHEDULE17 words
Rules made under this Act
10 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Tripura Sansodhanagar (Trird amendment) Rules,20252025
- THE RAJASTHAN PRISONS RULES, 20222022
- The Andaman and Nicobar Prison Manual, 20212021
- The Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 20212021
- Maharashtra Prisons (Mumbai Furlough and Parole) (Amendment) Rules, 2020.2020
- The Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole (Amendment) Rules, 20202020
- Maharashtra Prisons (Mumbai Furlough and Parole) (Amendment) Rules, 20182018
- Rajasthan Prisons (Shorening of Sentences) (Amendment) Rules, 20182018
- Rajasthan Prisons (Shortening of Sentences) Rules, 20062007
- Maharashtra Prison Manual 1979 RULES1979
Related Acts
- The Sir Dinshaw Manockjee Petit Act, 189319 sections
- The Bengal Military Police Act, 189213 sections
- The Murshidabad Act, 18916 sections
- The Central Provinces Tenancy Act, 1898100 sections
- The North-western Provinces and Oudh Act, 189063 sections
- The Central Provinces Court of Wards Act, 189941 sections
- The Prisoners Act, 190053 sections
- The King of Oudh's Estate Act, 18882 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 62 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.