The Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026
punjab · 2026
The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.
- S. 1(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026
- S. 2Section 2 defines key terms used in the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026, including "after-care service," "civil prisoner," and "convict."
- S. 3Section 3 outlines the functions of prisons and correctional institutions, including custody, safety, rehabilitation, and vocational training for prisoners.
- S. 4The section mandates the government to establish and maintain prisons and correctional institutions in Punjab.
- S. 5Section 5 authorizes the government to establish various types of prisons and correctional institutions, including high-security zones for high-risk prisoners.
- S. 6Section 6 mandates prison construction and operational standards, segregation by prisoner category, and staff facilities.
- S. 7Section 7 allows the government to establish temporary prisons for overcrowded or disease-affected facilities.
- S. 8Section establishes a Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services in Punjab to implement government prison policies and manage prison staff.
- S. 9Section 9 appoints the Head of Prisons and Correctional Services with administrative, financial, and disciplinary powers.
- S. 10Section 10 appoints prison officers and assigns administrative control to the officer-in-charge.
- S. 11Section 11 outlines qualifications, recruitment, salaries, training, and hiring of specialized agencies for prison officers and staff.
- S. 12Section 12 outlines the officer-in-charge's responsibilities for prison management, custody, and discipline.
- S. 13(1) In every prison there shall be a hospital or a proper place for reception and treatment of sick prisoners
- S. 14All prison officers and staff shall discharge their duties based on the functions and responsibilities, as may be prescr
- S. 15Section 15 regulates employee services under the East Punjab Essential Services Act, 1947.
- S. 16Section 16 assigns duties of an absent officer-in-charge to another designated officer.
- S. 17Section 17 prohibits prison officers from engaging in business with prisoners or having interests in prison contracts.
- S. 18Section 18 establishes a staff welfare wing and allows rewards for outstanding prison staff performance.
- S. 19Section 19 mandates the use of advanced technology for prison management, security, and prisoner tracking in Punjab.
- S. 20Section 20 mandates the officer-in-charge to receive, detain, and execute lawful warrants for prisoners, and return executed warrants to the issuing court.
- S. 21Section 21 allows the transfer of prisoners between Punjab prisons with mutual consent, and under-trial transfers require state and court approval.
- S. 22Section 22 mandates searching, medical examination, and identification for prisoners entering or leaving a Punjab prison.
- S. 23Every prisoner shall be liable to be searched at any time for detection of any prohibited article
- S. 24Section 24 mandates prisoners to allow measurement for identification if convicted, ordered to give security, or arrested.
- S. 25Section allows the Department to use Aadhaar for voluntary authentication during prison processes per Aadhaar Act.
- S. 26Section mandates medical examination of prisoners to check for chronic diseases and past health issues.
- S. 27Section 27 mandates that prisoners' valuable items, not ordered otherwise by a court, must be held by the prison's authorized officer.
- S. 28Section 28 mandates the immediate reporting of foreign prisoner admissions to the Directorate and relevant Indian authorities.
- S. 29Section establishes a committee to classify and assess prisoners' security levels.
- S. 30Section 30 details the classification and segregation of prisoners based on various factors and assigns them to specific categories and facilities.
- S. 31Section mandates the department to protect society from high-risk prisoners by classifying and segregating them based on their criminal history.
- S. 32Section 32 mandates special surveillance and security measures for preventing organized crime in prisons, including intelligence gathering and staff rotation.
- S. 33Section 33 mandates the establishment of separate facilities for women prisoners and outlines provisions for their accommodation and gender-specific services.
- S. 34Section mandates medical officer to report pregnant female prisoner to officer-in-charge and arrange for her medical care and diet.
- S. 35(1) Women prisoners may keep their children inside the prison until the child attains the age of six years
- S. 36Section 36 outlines the responsibilities of prison officers for safe custody, prisoner transfers, police assistance, and use of handcuffs and force against certain high-risk prisoners.
- S. 37(1) All visitors to prisoners shall be searched in such manner, as may be prescribed
- S. 38Section 38 grants the officer-in-charge authority to maintain prison discipline and mandates prisoners to obey prison officers.
- S. 39(1) Prison offences shall be classified into minor and serious prison offences
- S. 40Section 40 outlines the punishments the officer-in-charge can impose for prison offences, including minor and major penalties.
- S. 41The procedure for award of punishment for prison offence shall be such, as may be prescribed
- S. 42Section 42 prohibits prisoners, visitors, and staff from possessing communication devices in prison, with escalating penalties for violations.
- S. 43Section 43 imposes imprisonment and fine for prisoners found guilty of rioting in a prison.
- S. 44Section 44 penalizes prisoners assaulting prison staff or others in prison with up to three years' imprisonment and a fine up to 50,000 rupees.
- S. 45Section 45 penalizes prisoners who escape, assist escapes, or resist recapture, with up to ten years imprisonment and a fine.
- S. 46Section 46 penalizes prisoners for damaging prison property with imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to ten lakh rupees.
- S. 47Section 47 of the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026 punishes prisoners for criminal intimidation of prison officers or staff with up to three years imprisonment and fines.
- S. 48Section 48 prohibits bringing prohibited items like liquor, tobacco, and poisons into prisons, with escalating penalties for violations.
- S. 49(1) All offences under sections 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48 shall be cognizable and non-bailable
- S. 50Section 50 mandates that repeat offenders of serious prison violations, especially smuggling intoxicants, face trial by a Magistrate for additional imprisonment.
- S. 51Section mandates prison officers to display prohibited acts and penalties in English and local language for prisoner and staff awareness.
- S. 52All prisoners shall have access to adequate, gender-responsive health care facilities, as may be prescribed
- S. 53The section allows the government to transfer mentally ill prisoners to mental health facilities with board permission.
- S. 54Section 54 mandates the medical officer to record and report details of a prisoner's death to prison and department authorities.
- S. 55Section 55 provides educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities for prisoners to aid their rehabilitation.
- S. 56Section 56 mandates able-bodied prisoners to work in workshops and factories unless otherwise engaged, with work allocation and management prescribed.
- S. 57Section 57 allows prison canteens and sales outlets to sell products to prisoners, staff, and the public.
- S. 58Section 58 mandates preparation and updating of individual rehabilitation and reintegration plans for prisoners.
- S. 59Section 59 allows prisoners to work and be paid wages, prohibits caste-based discrimination in work, and bans manual scavenging in prisons.
- S. 60Section 60 establishes open and semi-open correctional institutions for prisoner rehabilitation and outlines management rules.
- S. 61Section 61 allows eligible convicted prisoners to receive leave under the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962.
- S. 62The remission may be granted to the eligible convicted prisoner by the competent authority, as may be prescribed
- S. 63The section mandates the government to create rules for early release of life convicts per the new criminal code.
- S. 64Section 64 allows prisoners to communicate with approved visitors under supervision, with special provisions for foreign prisoners.
- S. 65Section 65 establishes a Board of Visitors and mandates regular inspections of prisons by officials.
- S. 66Section 66 provides for after-care services to help rehabilitate and reintegrate needy released prisoners.
- S. 67Section 67 mandates special provisions for welfare and advancement of transgender prisoners in Punjab.
- S. 68The procedure for executing the sentence of a prisoner shall be such, as may be prescribed
- S. 69Facilities shall be provided to all the prisoners, desiring to file an appeal or revision or petition
- S. 70Section mandates the prison's Officer-in-charge to maintain sanitation and hygiene as prescribed.
- S. 71Section 71 mandates the Officer-in-charge to use prison land for prescribed after-care, rehabilitation, and special transgender provisions.
- S. 72Section mandates the prison's Officer-in-charge to maintain digital and physical prison registers and adopt prescribed management procedures.
- S. 73Section mandates prison officers and staff to wear specified uniforms and badges, and arms and ammunition maintenance as prescribed.
- S. 74Section 74 mandates the State Government to create rules for housing and executing death sentences of condemned prisoners.
- S. 75Section 75 mandates the government to offer free legal aid to prisoners under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- S. 76Section establishes a district Under Trial Review Committee headed by the District and Sessions Judge.
- S. 77Section 77 establishes a grievance redressal mechanism for prisoners, officers, and staff.
- S. 78Section allows prison officers to use prisoner services for prison administration as prescribed.
- S. 79Section 79 prohibits strikes, agitations, or demands inside the prison by prisoners, visitors, or staff.
- S. 80Section 80 mandates the officer-in-charge to prepare for emergencies in prisons, including procuring equipment and forming a Quick Reaction Team.
- S. 81Section 81 states that prisoners are subject to prison discipline even when outside the prison under lawful custody.
- S. 82The section establishes a Prison Development Board to modernize prison infrastructure and facilities.
- S. 83Section 83 allows the government to designate specific officers to exercise powers under the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act.
- S. 84The accounts of every prison shall be maintained and audited in such manner, as may be prescribed
- S. 85(1) No prisoner shall be discriminated against on ground of disability
- S. 86Section 86 protects government officials from legal actions for actions done in good faith under this Act.
- S. 87The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules consistent with this Act
- S. 88(1) The Prisons Act, 1894 (Central Act No
- S. 89Section 89 grants the State Government power to issue orders to address difficulties in implementing the Act.