BNS Section 12 — Limit of solitary confinement

Summary

In executing a sentence of solitary confinement, the confinement cannot last more than fourteen days at a stretch. There must be a gap between any two periods of solitary confinement that is at least as long as the period of confinement itself.

If the total imprisonment given is more than three months, then solitary confinement in any one month of that whole sentence cannot exceed seven days. The gap between any two periods of solitary confinement must again be at least as long as the period of confinement itself.

Official Text

In executing a sentence of solitary confinement, such confinement shall in no case exceed fourteen days at a time, with intervals between the periods of solitary confinement of not less duration than such periods; and when the imprisonment awarded shall exceed three months, the solitary confinement shall not exceed seven days in any one month of the whole imprisonment awarded, with intervals between the periods of solitary confinement of not less duration than such periods.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §74 — Limit of solitary confinement