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Section50
The Prisons Act, 1894

Medical Officer to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment

In force From 07 Jan 1894 Act 9 of 1894 As on 19 Oct 2026

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

Section 50 of the Prisons Act, 1894 deals with medical Officer to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment. No punishment of penal diet, either singly or in combination, or of whipping, or of change of labour under section 46, clause (2), shall be executed until the prisoner to whom such punishment has been awarded has been examined by the Medical Officer, who, if he considers the prisoner fit to undergo The Act came into force on 07 Jan 1894.

(1) No punishment of penal diet, either singly or in combination, or of whipping, or of change of labour under section 46, clause (2), shall be executed until the prisoner to whom such punishment has been awarded has been examined by the Medical Officer, who, if he considers the prisoner fit to undergo the punishment, shall certify accordingly in the appropriate column of the punishment-book prescribed in section 12.

(2) If he considers the prisoner unfit to undergo the punishment, he shall in like manner record his opinion in writing and shall state whether the prisoner is absolutely unfit for punishment of the kind awarded, or whether he considers any modification necessary.

(3) In the latter case he shall state what extent of punishment he thinks the prisoner can undergo without injury to his health.

STATE AMENDMENT

Assam.

Amendment of Section 50 of Act 9 of 1894.--In sub-section (1) of section 50 of the Principal Act the words and comma “or of whipping,” shall be omitted.

[Vide Assam Act 12 of 1956, s. 4.]

Section 50, The Prisons Act, 1894 (Act 9 of 1894).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

This section refers to

  1. s. 12 Records to be kept by Superintendent
  2. s. 46 Punishment of such offences

Questions about Section 50

What does Section 50 of the Prisons Act deal with?

Section 50 of the Prisons Act is headed "Medical Officer to certify to fitness of prisoner for punishment". No punishment of penal diet, either singly or in combination, or of whipping, or of change of labour under section 46, clause (2), shall be executed until the prisoner to whom such punishment has been awarded has been examined by the Medical Officer, who, if he considers the prisoner fit to undergo

How do I find court cases under Section 50 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 50, section 50 Prisons Act 1894, section 50 of the Prisons Act. 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 50 of the Prisons Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 12 (Records to be kept by Superintendent), section 46 (Punishment of such offences), so none of them can safely be read on its own.

When did Section 50 of the Prisons Act come into force?

Section 50 of the Prisons Act, cited as Prisons Act 1894 50, 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 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.