Prisoners Act, 1900 · Chapter III: Prisoners in the Presidency-Towns · Prisoners outside the presidency-towns
Section 17: Procedure where officer in charge of prison doubts the legality of warrant sent to him for execution under this Part
(1) Where an officer in charge of a prison doubts the legality of a warrant or order sent to him for execution under this Part, or the competency of the person whose official seal or signature is affixed thereto to pass the sentence and issue the warrant or order, he shall refer the matter to the State Government, by whose order on the case he and all other public officers shall be guided as to the future disposal of the prisoner.
(2) Pending a reference made under sub-section (1), the prisoner shall be detained in such manner and with such restrictions or mitigations as may be specified in the warrant or order.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 17
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.