IPC Section 74 — Limit of solitary confinement

Summary

When a court orders solitary confinement as part of a punishment, that confinement cannot last more than 14 days at a time. There must also be a break between each period of solitary confinement that is at least as long as the confinement itself. If the total prison sentence is longer than three months, solitary confinement in any one month cannot exceed seven days, and again the break between each period must be at least as long as the confinement.

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

• HARBANS SINGH AND ANOTHER v. STATE OF PUNJAB — Supreme Court of India (S)
• SUNIL BATRA v. DELHI ADMN — Supreme Court of India (1979)
• S.C.R. 609 SHATRUGHAN CHAUHAN & ANR v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• .. Appellant vs 1.The Additional Director General of Police & — Madras High Court (2017)
• HCP/393/2018 — Madras High Court (2018)
• HCP/392/2018 — Madras High Court (2018)
• S.C.R. 881 STATE TR. P.S. LODHI COLONY, NEW DELHI v. SANJEEV NANDA — Supreme Court of India (2012)
• S.C.R. 199 PRAMOD BHANUDAS SOUNDANKAR v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Supreme Court of India (2012)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §12 — Limit of solitary confinement