Section 33Power of Magistrates to sentence to imprisonment in default of fine

s. 33

33. Power of Magistrates to sentence to imprisonment in default of fine (1) The Court of any Magistrate may award such terms of imprisonment in default of payment of fine as is authorized by law in case of such default: [Proviso as to certain cases] Provided that- (a) the term is not in excess of the Magistrate's powers under this Code; (b) in any case decided by a Magistrate where imprisonment has been awarded as part of the substantive sentence, the period of imprisonment awarded in default of payment of the fine shall not exceed one-fourth of the period of imprisonment which such Magistrate is competent to inflict as punishment for the offence otherwise than as imprisonment in default of payment of the fine. (2) The imprisonment awarded under this section may be in addition to a substantive sentence of imprisonment for the maximum term awardable by the Magistrate under section 32.