Section3
The Prisons Act, 1894

Definitions

In force From 07 Jan 1894 Act 9 of 1894 As on 16 Oct 2026

Act 9 of 1894 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 22 Mar 1894 In force 07 Jan 1894 Instruments 2

Section 3 of the Prisons Act, 1894 deals with definitions. In this Act (1) "prison" means any jail or place used permanently or temporarily under the general or special orders of a State Government for the detention of prisoners, and includes all lands and buildings appurtenant thereto, but does not include (a) any place for the confinement of prisoners who The Act came into force on 07 Jan 1894.

In this Act

(1) "prison" means any jail or place used permanently or temporarily under the general or special orders of a State Government for the detention of prisoners, and includes all lands and buildings appurtenant thereto, but does not include

(a) any place for the confinement of prisoners who are exclusively in the custody of the police;

(b) any place specially appointed by the State Government under section 541 of the 1Code of Criminal Procedure, 1882 (10 of 1882); or

(c) any place which has been declared by the State Government, by general or special order, to be a subsidiary jail;

(2) "criminal prisoner" means any prisoner duly committed to custody under the writ, warrant or order of any Court or authority exercising criminal jurisdiction, or by order of a Court-martial ;

(3) "convicted criminal prisoner" means any criminal prisoner under sentence of a Court or Court-martial, and includes a person detained in prison under the provisions of Chapter VIII of the 1Code of Criminal Procedure, 1882 (10 of 1882), or under the 2Prisoners Act, 1871 (5 of 1871) ;

(4) "civil prisoner" means any prisoner who is not a criminal prisoner ;

(5) "remission system" means the rules for the time being in force regulating the award of marks to, and the consequent shortening of sentences of, prisoners in jail ;

(6) "history-ticket" means the ticket exhibiting such information as is required in respect of each prisoner by this Act or the rules thereunder ;

(7) "Inspector General" means the Inspector General of Prisons ;

(8) "Medical Subordinate" means an Assistant Surgeon, Apothecary or qualified Hospital Assistant; and

(9) "prohibited article" means an article the introduction or removal of which into or out of a prison is prohibited by any rule under this Act.

STATE AMENDMENT

Orissa.--

Amendment of section 3, (9 of 1894).--In section 3 of the Prisons Act, 1894(9 of 1894) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), for clause (5) the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:--

"(5) "remission system" means the system of regulating the award of marks to, and the consequent shortening the sentences of prisoners in jail in accordance with the rules for the time being in force;

(5a) "furlough system" means the system of releasing prisoners in jail on furlough in accordance with the rules for the time being in force."

[Vide the Orissa Act 29 of 1958, s. 2]

Maharashtra.--

Amendment of section 3 of Act IX of 1894.--In section 3 of the Prisons Act, 1894 (IX of 1894), hereinafter to as the said Act, for clause (5), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:--

"(5) 'remission system' means the system of regulation the award of marks to, and the consequent shortening of sentence of, prisoners in jail in accordance with the rules for the time being in force;

(5A) 'furlough system' means the system of releasing prisoners in jail in furlough in accordance with the rules for the time being in force."

[Vide Bombay Act XXVII of 1953, s. 2]

Maharashtra.--

Amendment of section 3 of Act IX of 1894.--In the Prisons Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as "the Principal Act"), in section 3, clause (8) shall be deleted.

[Vide Bombay Act XLV of 1959, s. 2]

Section 3, The Prisons Act, 1894 (Act 9 of 1894).

Made under this section, and citing it

2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 3

What does Section 3 of the Prisons Act deal with?

Section 3 of the Prisons Act is headed "Definitions". In this Act (1) "prison" means any jail or place used permanently or temporarily under the general or special orders of a State Government for the detention of prisoners, and includes all lands and buildings appurtenant thereto, but does not include (a) any place for the confinement of prisoners who

How do I find court cases under Section 3 of the Prisons Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Prisons Act 1894 3, section 3 Prisons Act 1894, section 3 of the Prisons Act. People searching for it also type prison act 3 bg3. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 3 of the Prisons Act, and has it changed?

2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently THE RAJASTHAN PRISONS RULES, 2022 (2022), then Maharashtra Prison Manual 1979 RULES (1979).

When did Section 3 of the Prisons Act come into force?

Section 3 of the Prisons Act, cited as Prisons Act 1894 3, came into force on 07 Jan 1894, having been enacted on 22 Mar 1894. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

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. Text as in force on 16 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.