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act 013 of 1852 : Calcutta Police Act, 1852 [Repealed]

Calcutta Police Act, 1852 [Repealed]

ACTNO. 13 OF 1852
02 March, 1854
Repealed by Act 13 of 1856
Passed by the Governor General of India in Council, on the 27th February 1852.
An Act for consolidating and amending the Regulations of the Calcutta Police.

Whereas it is expedient to consolidate and amend divers Rules, Ordinances, and Regulations which from time to time have been passed in Council, and registered in the Supreme Court, for the good order and civil government of the Presidency and Settlement of Fort William in Bengal. It is enacted as follows:

Section 1. Laws repealed

Section VIII. of Act XXI. of 1839, and the Rules, Ordinances, and Regulations for the good order and civil government of the Settlement of Fort William in Bengal, passed in Council, and registered in the Supreme Court, on the several days hereinafter mentioned, are repealed, but not so as to revive any other Rules, Ordinances, and Regulations thereby repealed.

List of Repealed Ordinances.

Date of passing in Council.

Date of Registry in the Supreme Court.

26th July 1814.

11th November 1814.

1st March 1816.

26th March 1816.

23rd March 1816.

13th April 1816.

14th June 1816.

8th July 1816.

19th October 1816.

12th November 1816.

28th March 1817.

21st April 1817.

13th January 1818.

7th February 1818.

9th July 1819.

22nd October 1819.

24th March 1820.

17th April 1820.

21st August 1821.

13th November 1821.

8th March 1821.

27th April 1827.

Section 2. Justices of the Peace may make order of maintenance for wives and children

If any person within the said Town having sufficient means or employment, shad not duly maintain his wile or his legitimate or illegitimate children, and shad be thereof convicted before a Justice of the Peace, upon his own confession or the oath of one or more credible witnesses, the said Justice may make an order upon such person for the maintenance of such wife and children, or any of them, at such monthly rate as to the Justice seems reasonable, and upon non-compliance with the said order for any one month, or longer period, any Justice, by warrant under his hand and seal, may commit the person so correction to the Common Gaol of Calcutta without labour, or to the House of Correction to hard labour, for any time not exceeding two Calendar months.

Section 3. Persons convicted of having or conveying stolen goods liable to penalty

Every person who shall be brought before a Justice of the Peace charged with having in his possession, or in his premises with his knowledge, or with conveying in any manner anything which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained, and who shall not give an account to the satisfaction of such Justice how he came by the same, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof before such Justice, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees, or, in the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any time not exceeding three Calendar months.

Section 4. Persons in whose possession stolen goods are found, to be examined &c

When any person shall be brought before a Justice of the Peace charged with having in his possession, or in his premises with his knowledge, or with conveying anything stolen or unlawfully obtained, and shall declare that he received the same from some other person, or that he was employed as a earner, agent, or servant to convey the same for some other person, such Justice shall cause every such person, and also if necessary every former or pretended purchaser, or other person through whose possession the same shall have passed, to be brought before him and examined, and shall examine witnesses upon oath touching the same; and if it shall appear to such Justice that any person shall have had possession of such thing, and had reasonable cause to believe the same to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees, or, in the discretion of the Justice, may be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, far any time not exceeding three Calendar months; every such person shall be deemed to have had possession of such thing at the time and place when, and where the same shall have been found or seized, and the possession of a carrier, agent, or servant shall be deemed to be the possession session of the person who shall have employed such carrier, agent, or servant to keep or convey the same.

Section 5. On suspicion of goods being stolen or unlawfull obtained, Justice may grant search-warrant

If information shall be given on oath to a Justice of the Peace that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that anything stolen or unlawfully obtained is concealed or lodged in any dwelling-house, building, or other place, such Justice, by special warrant under his hand, directed to any Police Officer or Constable, may cause such dwelling-house, building, or other place to be entered and searched at any time of the day, or by night, if power for that purpose be given by such warrant, and the said Justice, if it shall appear to him necessary, may empower such Police Officer or Constable, with such assistance as may be found necessary, (such Constable having previously made known his authority,) to use force for the effecting of such entry, whether by breaking open doors or otherwise, and if upon search thereupon made any such thing shall be found, then to convey the same before a Justice, or to guard the same on the spot, until the offenders are taken before a Justice, or otherwise dispose thereof in some place of safety, and moreover to take into custody, and carry before the said Justice every person found in such house or place who shall appear to have been privy to the deposit of any such thing, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect the same to have been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained.

Section 6. Power to search houses for stolen property without a warrant in certain cases

If information shall be given to any Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Inspector belonging to the Calcutta Police, that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that any stolen property is concealed or lodged in any dwelling-house or other place, and the said Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Inspector shall have good grounds for believing that, by reason of the delay in obtaining a search-warrant, the property is likely to be removed, the said Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Inspector, in virtue of his office, may search for specific articles alleged to have been stolen in the houses and places specified; provided always, that a list of the articles stolen or missing be delivered and taken down in writing, with a declaration stating that the robbery has been committed, and that the informant has good ground to believe that the property is deposited in such house or place; and provided further, that the person who lost the goods, or his representative, accompany the Officer in the search.

Section 7. Extension of Acts XXI. of 1839 and in of 1842, to cases in which property stolen does not exceed fifty rupees in value

All persons charged with the commission of any of the offences specified in Acts XXI. of 1839 and III. of 1842, may be tried by any Justice of the Peace for the said Town, provided the value of the property which the prisoner is charged with having stolen does not, according to the belief of such Justice, exceed fifty rupees, anything in the said Acts to the contrary notwithstanding; and all the powers by Act XXI. of 1839 (except Section VIII. aforesaid,) and Act III. of 1842, given or reserved to any such Justice for the trial, conviction, and sentence of parties charged with having stolen property not exceeding twenty rupees in value, and all the provisions of the said Acts (except as aforesaid) shall extend and be applicable to the trial, conviction, and sentence of parties charged with having stolen property, not exceeding, according to the belief of the Justice, fifty rupees in value.

Section 8. Extension of Acts XXI, of 1839 and III. of 1842, to the offence of receiving stolen property when the value of the property does not exceed fifty rupees

Every person charged with the offence of feloniously receiving goods or money, knowing the same to be stolen, may be tried by any Justice of the Peace, provided that the value of the property stolen or received does not, according to the belief of the Justice, exceed fifty rupees, and every such person, on conviction of any such offence, shall be liable, at the discretion of the Justice, to be imprisoned, with or to without without hard labour, for any term not exceeding six Calendar months; and all the powers and provisions of Act III. of 1842 and Act XXI. of 1839, except Section VIII. aforesaid, shall apply, so far as they may be applicable, to the trial, conviction, and sentence of any person charged under this Section with the offence of feloniously receiving goods or money knowing the same to be stolen; provided always, that if it shall appear to the said Justice that such person has been previously convicted of, or is in the habit of receiving stolen goods, knowing the same to be stolen, the said Justice shall commit such person for trial before the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Section 9. Summary conviction of persons accessory to the commission of certain felonie

Every person who is accessory, before or after the fact, to any felony which is punishable on summary conviction before any Justice, is liable to be tried and convicted summarily before such Justice, on his own confession or the oath of one or more credible witnesses, and the convicting Justice shall have power to sentence any such accessory to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any time not exceeding six Calendar months, or in his or their discretion, instead of trying him, to commit him for trial to the Supreme Court of Judicature, or other court having authority to try him.

Section 10. Punishment for boys

Whenever any boy, under the age of sixteen years, is Convicted before a Justice of the Peace, either of simple larceny under the said Act XXI. of 1839, or, under this Act, of feloniously receiving goods or money knowing the same to be stolen, or of being an accessory to any felony which is punishable on summary conviction before any Justice, the said Justice, if he thinks fit, may sentence him to receive corporal punishment not exceeding fifteen stripes of a light ratan, instead of sentencing him to imprisonment.

Section 11. Cases of assault, forcible entry, or other injury not being felony

Any person who shall commit any assault, forcible entry, or other injury accompanied with force, not being felony, within the said Town, against the person or property of any person whatsoever, shall be liable, on conviction thereof before a Justice of the Peace, to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees, and the said Justice may award the whole or any part of such fine to the party or parties aggrieved, by way of satisfaction for such injury, or, in the discretion of such Justice, such person shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for any time not exceeding four Calendar months.

Section 12. Persons chafed with recent assault may be apprehended by Police without warrant, though assault not committed in view of Police

Any Deputy Superintendent or Inspector of Police may take into custody, or authorize a Constable to take into custody, without warrant, any person who within the said Town shall be charged by any other person with committing an aggravated assault, in every case in which such Deputy Superintendent or Inspector of Police shall have good reason to believe that such assault has been committed, although not within view of such Deputy Superintendent or Inspector, and that by reason of the recent commission of the offence, a warrant could not have been obtained for the appearance of the offender.

Section 13. Unlawfully taking or enticing away women or female children under the age of sixteen

If complaint shall be made before any Justice that any person within the said Town has unlawfully taken or caused to be taken away, against her will, any woman, or has unlawfully taken or caused to be taken or enticed away any female child under the age of sixteen years, out of the possession or protection and against the will of the husband, father, mother, guardian or other person who has the lawful order, keeping, education, or government of such child, for the purpose of living in adultery with such woman or child, or for purposes of prostitution, or of deflowering or disposing of her in marriage, it shall he lawful for the said Justice to make an order for the immediate restoration of such woman to her liberty, or of such female child to her husband, father, mother, guardian, or such other person as aforesaid, as the case may be, and to compel compliance with such order; and if it he necessary to use force for that purpose, any Deputy Superintendent or Inspector of Police, duly authorized by the Justice in that behalf, with such assistants as he may deem necessary, may break open doors or otherwise compel compliance with the same, and the said Justice may commit any person charged with taking, or causing to be taken, or enticing any woman or female child as aforesaid, for any of the purposes aforesaid, for trial before the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Section 14. Keeping open houses of public entertainment with out licence

Any person who shall have or keep any house, shop, room, or place of public resort and entertainment within the said Town, wherein provisions, liquors, or refreshments of any kind shall be sold or consumed, (whether the same shall be kept or retailed therein or procured elsewhere,) without a licence for the same being first had and obtained from and under the hand of two Justices of the Peace, shall be, liable, on conviction thereof before any of the said Justices, to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees for every day that such unlicensed house or place of public resort or entertainment is kept open.

Section 15. Two Justices to grant licences

Two or more of the said Justices shall from time to time hold licensing Sessions, for the purpose of granting licences to the keepers of such houses or places of public resort and entertainment as aforesaid, and the said licences may be granted by the said Justices for any term not exceeding one year, subject to the restriction contained in Section XII. Act XI. of 1849, and upon such conditions to be inserted in every such licence as the Justices from time to time shall order, for securing the good behaviour of the keepers of the said houses or places of public resort or entertainment, and the prevention of drunkenness and disorder among the persons frequenting or using the same.

Section 16. Penalty for parties not conforming to the tenor of their licence

The keeper of every such house or place of public resort and entertainment, who shall wilfully offend against any conforming to the tenor of condition of his licence, shall he liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees for every such offence, and, in the discretion of the convicting Justice, to forfeit his licence, in addition to any other penalty or punishment that shall be imposed on him.

Section 17. Disorderly conduct and illegal harbouring of deserters in houses of public entertainment

Every person who shall have or keep any house, shop, room, or place of public resort or entertainment within the Town, wherein provisions, liquors, or refreshments of any kind shall be sold or consumed, (whether the same shall be kept or retailed therein or procured elsewhere,) and who shall knowingly or wilfully permit drunkenness or other disorderly behaviour in such house, shop, room, or place, or who shall knowingly suffer any unlawful games or any gaming whatsoever therein, or who shall knowingly permit prostitutes, or persons of notoriously bad character to meet or remain therein, or who shall wilfully harbour or conceal any Seaman or Apprentice who shall have deserted, knowing or having reason to believe such Seaman or Apprentice so harboured or concealed to be a deserter, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees, and shall be liable to forfeiture of his licence, in addition to any other penalty or punishment that shall be imposed on him.

Section 18. Hours for sale of spirituous liquors and intoxicating drugs

Every person who shall keep open his house, shop, room, or place, for the purpose of selling or retailing spirituous or fermented liquors or intoxicating drugs, under a licence from the Collector of Calcutta, after the hour of nine at night and before the hour of six in the morning, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding twenty-five rupees, and shall also be liable, in the discretion of the said Justice, to the forfeiture of his licence.

Section 19. Introduction of spirituous liquors without licence into Fort William

If any person, not being amenable to the Articles of War, shall take or attempt to take into Fort William any quantity of spirituous liquors, wine, or intoxicating drugs of any description, without a licence from the Commanding Officer of the said Fort, or from some other person thereunto authorized, any Justice of the Peace, upon complaint to him thereof made, may issue his summons or warrant for bringing the party complained of, and also the liquors, wine, or drugs, and the vessels containing the same, before him, and in case of conviction may adjudge the said liquors, wine, or drugs, and the vessels containing the same, to be forfeited, and every such, person so convicted shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding fifty rupees, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding two Calendar months.

Section 20. Taking spirits, &c., into the Gaol

Every person who shah take or thrown or attempt to take or throw, into the Great Gaol or House of Correction of Calcutta, any quantity of spirituous liquors, wine, or intoxicating drugs, without the licence or consent of the Jailor or Keeper of such Gaol or House of Correction respectively, shall be liable for every such offence, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding fifty rupees, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding two months.

Section 21. Breaking Gaol

Every person who shall have been committed to the Great Gaol or House of Correction, or who shall be in custody at any Police Office or Station, and who shall unlawfully fatty break or escape from such Gaol, House of Correction, Police Office, or Station, shall be liable for every such offence, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding three months, and such imprisonment shall commence and take effect from and after the expiration of any other sentence of imprisonment under which such person may be imprisoned at the time of committing the offence aforesaid.

Section 22. Riotous or indecent behavior

Every person who shall be found drunk and incapable of taking care of himself in any street or public thoroughfare, or who shall be guilty of any riotous or indecent behaviour in any street, public thoroughfare, Police Office, Station, or Section House, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding twenty rupees for every such offence, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding fourteen days.

Section 23. Rogues and vagabonds

Any Constable or Peace Officer belonging to the Calcutta Police may take into custody, without a warrant, any person who shall be found between sunset and sunrise armed with any dangerous or offensive instrument whatsoever, with intent to break or enter into any dwelling-house or other building whatsoever, or any loose, idle, or disorderly persons whom he shall find disturbing the public peace, or whom he shall have good cause to suspect of having committed, or being about to commit, any felony, misdemeanor, or breach of the peace, or any reputed thief whom he shall find between sunset and sunrise on board any boat in the river, or lying or loitering in any bazar, street, road, yard, thoroughfare or other place, and not giving a satisfactory account of himself, or any person having in his possession without lawful excuse (the proof of which excuse shall lie on such person), any picklock key, crow, jack, bit, or other implement of house-breaking, or any person found between sunset and sunrise having his face blackened or otherwise disguised, with intent to commit any felony, or any person who shall be found between sunset and sunrise in any dwelling-house or other building whatsoever, with intent to commit any felony therein; and every such offender, on conviction before a Justice, either on his own confession or on the evidence of one or more credible witnesses, shall be liable, at the discretion of the said Justice, to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding four Calendar months.

Section 24. Beggars

Every person who shall beg or apply for alms or relief in any public road, street, or thoroughfare, or who shall expose or exhibit any sores, wounds, bodily ailment or deformity in such roads, streets, or public thoroughfares, with the object of exciting charity, or of obtaining alms, or relief, or who shall, anywhere within the Town, seek for or obtain alms or relief by means of any false statements or pretences, or who shall cause, aid, or abet any such person as aforesaid in the commission of any of the said offences, shall, for every such offence, on conviction before a Justice, be liable to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding two Calendar months.

Section 25. Furious Driving

Every person who shall drive or ride furiously, or at a greater rate than ten miles an hour, any vehicle or animal in the said streets or public thoroughfares, shall, for every such offence, on conviction thereof before a Justice, be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty rupees, or in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for any period not exceeding one Calendar month.

Section 26. Lamps to vehicles

Every person who shall drive any vehicle of any description, at any time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, without having a lighted lamp affixed to such vehicle, shall, for every such offence, on conviction thereof before a Justice, be liable to a penalty of not more than fifty rupees, or, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for any period not exceeding one Calendar month.

Section 27. For suppression of common gaming-houses

If any person shall make oath before a Justice of the Peace that any house, building, room, or other place within the Town, is commonly reported and believed to be kept or used as a common gaming-house or place, such Justice, by an order in writing, may authorize a Deputy Superintendent or Inspector of Police to enter any such house, building, room, or place, with such Constables as he shall deem requisite to accompany him, and if necessary, to use force for the purpose of effecting such entry, whether by breaking open doors or otherwise, and to take into custody and search all persons found therein, and to seize all tables and instruments of gaming, found in such house, building, room, or place, or on the persons of any of those found therein, and also to seize all moneys and securities for money found in any such house, building, room, or place; and the owner or keeper of the said gaming-house, or place, or other person having the care and management thereof, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding one hundred rupees, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any time not exceeding three Calendar months, and upon conviction of any such offender all such tables and instruments of unlawful games shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by order of the Justice before whom the conviction is had, and all the moneys and securities for moneys so found shall be forfeited to Government, and every person found on such premises, and who shall not be the owner or keeper, or other person having the care or management thereof, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding fifty rupees.

Section 28. Proof of playing for stakes unnecessary

It shall not be necessary, in support of any information for gaming in, or for suffering any games or gaming in, or for keeping or managing, or being concerned in the management or conduct of, any common gaming-house or place, under this Act, to prove that any person found playing at any game was playing for any money, wager, or stake.

Section 29. What articles if found shall be evidence that the house is a gaming-house

Where any cards, dice, balls, counters, tables, or other instruments of gaming, used in playing any unlawful game, are found in any house, building, room, or place suspected to be used as a common gaming-house or place, and entered by an order issued under this Act, or about the person of any who are found therein, shall he evidence, until the contrary is made to appear, that such house, building, room, or place, is used as a, common gaming-house or place, and that the persons found in the house, building, room, or place, where such tables or instruments of gaming shall have been found, were playing therein, although no play was actually going on in the presence of the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Inspector, or Constable entering the same as aforesaid.

Section 30. Gambling in the Streets

Every person who shall game for money, or any other thing or reward whatsoever, or who shall join in, but at, or abet, or be present for the purpose of joining, betting ??? abetting any swell gaming, in any street or public thoroughfare in ??? Town, shall be liable, on conviction thereof before a Justice ??? not exceeding fifty rupees, or, in default of payment, to ??? for any term not exceeding one Calendar month.

Section 31. Using false or defective weights and measures

All persons who deal in any articles by retail by weight or measure, and who have in or about their shops or premises, or otherwise in their possession, any false or deficient weight, measure, beam or scale, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding twenty rupees, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding one Calendar month; and every such false and defective weight, measure, beam or scale: shall be forfeited, and the said Justice shall cause the same to be destroyed; and it shall be lawful for the Chief Magistrate or Superintendent of Police from time to time to issue public notices at the Police Office and Thannas, and such places as to him appear suitable, of the exact weight and measure of just weights and measures, and to keep at the Police Office and Thannas standard weights and measures for the information of the public.

Section 32. False weights and measures

Any Justice of the Peace or the Superintendent of Police may issue his warrant, directing any Deputy Superintendent or Inspector of Police to enter into any shop or other place where articles are bought and sold by retail, and to search for and to examine the weights and measures therein, and seize all such as he may suspect to be forfeited as false and deficient in weight.

Section 33. Justice of the Peace may take cognizance of cases of desertion or unauthorized absense from their ship of Foreign and Asiatic seamen

If any seaman, whether British or Foreign, shall, willfully and without leave or lawful excuse, absent himself from has vessel, any Justice of the Peace, upon complaint upon oath, and at the instance of any of the officers of the said vessel, may issue his warrant to apprehend and detain the said seaman and convey him on board of his vessel; and whenever any seaman shall have been imprisoned, it shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, on the release of such seaman from imprisonment, to cause him to be conveyed on board of the vessel to which he may belong.

Section 34. Arms carried by persons without due authority

No person, not being a soldier or sailor in the service of the Queen or the East India Company, or a Constable sons without due authority, belonging to the Calcutta Police, shall be entitled to carry any sword, spear, gun, or other offensive weapon in any street, thoroughfare, or public place, unless by leave of the Chief Magistrate or other head of the Police; and any person offending against this enactment, shall be liable to be disarmed by any Constable or other person acting under such instructions as shall be from time to time given by the Chief Magistrate on other head of the Police; and the weapons so seized shall be taken before the Chief Magistrate or other head of the Police, and forfeited to the Government, if the Chief Magistrate or other head of the Police, in his discretion, shall think fit to declare them forfeited.

Section 35. The regulation of carriages and persons at places of public resort

The Chief Magistrate or other head of the Police, from time to time, and as occasion may require, may make regulations for keeping clear the public ghauts and landing-stairs, and for the route to be observed in the public streets and places by all carts, carriages, palanquins, hackeries, and other vehicles, and by all horses, cattle and persons, and as to the times during which they may take the said routes, and for preventing obstruction of the streets and thoroughfares within the Town on all times of public processions and native holidays, as also during the time of Divine Service, and also may give directions to the Constables and other Peace Officers for keeping order and for preventing any obstruction of the thoroughfares in the immediate neighbourhood of any place of public resort, and in any case when the ghauts, landing-stairs, streets, or ??? may be thronged, or may be liable to be obstructed, and every ??? opposing or not obeying the orders so issued by the Chief Magistrate or other head of the Police, shall be liable to be arrested and detained by the Police, and, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred rupees.

Section 36. Police Officer taking Bribes

Any Police Officer or Constable who shall ask for or Police officers taking take any bribe or unauthorized reward in consideration of his doing or omitting to do any act in his official capacity, shall be liable, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, to a penalty not exceeding five hundred rupees, or, at the discretion of the said Justice, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any time not exceeding three months.

Section 37. As to manufacture or possession of Gun-powder or Gun-cotton

The Rule, Ordinance, and Regulation passed by the Governor General in Council on the 8th April 1802, and Section II. Act XVIII. of 1841, are hereby re pealed. Any person who shall, within the limits of the said Town, manufacture Gun-powder or Gun-cotton, or who shall, without a licence for that purpose being first had and obtained from the Chief Magistrate, have in his possession, in any house, shop, warehouse, or other building, at any one time, a greater quantity of Gun-powder or Gun-cotton for sale or otherwise than ten pounds, shall, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, be liable to a forfeiture of all such Gunpowder or Gun-cotton so manufactured or possessed, together with the vessel or receptacle in which it may be seized, and also to a fine not exceeding in amount the sum of rupees five hundred.

Section 38. Chief Magistrate to grant licences for sale and deposit of Gun-powder, &c

It shall be lawful for the Chief Magistrate to grant to any person (whom he shall deem fit and proper) a licence for the sale or keeping in deposit, within the limits of the said Town, any quantity of imported or Indian manufactured Gun-powder not exceeding fifty pounds, or any quantity of Gun-cotton not exceeding twenty pounds, on such conditions as shall be specified in the licence, and any person who shall be guilty of a breach of any of such conditions, shall, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, be liable to a forfeiture of his licence and of all Gunpowder or Gun-cotton so kept in deposit contrary thereto, and also to a fine not exceeding rupees two hundred.

Section 39. Licences to be in force for one year, and to contain certain provision

Every such licence as is mentioned in the preceding Section shall be in force for a period of one year only and no longer, but shall be renewable by the said Chief Magistrate at his discretion on the same or any other terms and conditions, and such licence shall also provide for the transit and carrying of Gun-powder from one place to another within the limits of the said Town, in such manner and in such quantity as shall be deemed advisable for the safety of the inhabitants and of property within the said Town, and every person offending against such provisions shall be liable to a fine not exceeding rupees fifty.

Section 40. As to Search for Gunpowder, &c

Any Justice of the Peace, on credible information laid before him on oath or solemn affirmation, that Gun-powder or Gun-cotton, or mixed materials for making the same contrary to the provisions of this Act, are suspected to be stored, kept, or possessed by any person, may issue his warrant, authorizing any Police Officer to search in the day-time any house, shop, magazine, or other building or place in which he has reasonable ground to suspect any Gunpowder or Gun-cotton to be manufactured, sold, or kept, or any boat, Carriage, cart, or other vehicle in which any Gun-powder or Gun-cotton, of materials for manufacturing the same, may be suspected to be carried, or any person suspected of carrying the same contrary to such licence or to the provisions of this Act, and all Gun-powder, Gun-cotton, or materials for manufacturing the same, found on such search, shall, together with the vessels or receptacles in which they may be stored, be immediately seized and brought before a Justice of the Peace, with whom the same shall be kept till it shall be adjudged whether the same shall be forfeited.

Section 41. Act not applicable to Government Powder, &c

The four last preceding Sections shall not extend to any Government Magazine or store, or building for the making or deposit of Gun-powder or Gun-cotton under the authority or for the use of the Government, or to any Gun-powder or Guncotton for the use of Her Majesty's or the East India Company's Troops, or otherwise for the service of Government, or to any of Her Majesty's Vessels of War, or the Vessels of the Indian Navy, or of the East India Company's Marine, or to any other Vessel within the River Hooghly laden with Gun-powder for importation or exportation.

Section 42. As to Vessels arriving in River with Powder on Board

Commanders of merchant vessels entering the River Hooghly shall, on or before the arrival of their vessels off Moyapore, deposit in the Magazine at that place all Gun-powder intended for the Ship's use from on board their respective vessels, exceeding the quantity of fifty pounds, which quantity they shall be permitted to retain in their vessels for the purpose of firing salutes or signals in case of distress, and the Gunpowder so deposited shall be again delivered on board on the return of the respective vessels from Calcutta in prosecution of the outward voyage; and Commanders of merchant vessels in the River Hooghly having on board their vessels Gun-powder or Gun-cotton for importation (not being Gun-powder belonging to the Government) exceeding the quantity of fifty pounds, shall also deposit the same, on or before the arrival of their vessels off Moyapore, in the Magazine of that place, under charge of an Officer belonging to the Customs at that place, or such other person as the Governor of Bengal may appoint, and the proprietors or consignees of such Gun-powder or Gun-cotton, or their agents, whenever they shall desire to remove the same from the Magazine, shall make application to the Collector of Sea Customs for authority to do so, which application, when it be intended that such Gun-powder or Gun-cotton shall be lodged in any place, or be laden in any boat or other conveyance within the limits of the said Town, shall be accompanied by a written order of permission, signed by a Justice of the Peace, to that effect, and when it be intended that such Gun-powder or Gun-cotton shall be exported by sea, the Commanders of vessels, or the proprietors or their agents, by whom it shall have been deposited in the Magazine, shall make application to the Collector of Sea Customs for permission so to export it; and the Collector of Sea Customs shall comply with such applications aforesaid, except where the exportation of ammunition shall require, under provisions of Act XVIII. of 1841, a licence from a public Officer other than the Collector of Sea Customs, in which case the Collector of Sea Customs shall not comply with the application unless it be accompanied by the licence of such public Officer; and on or before the removal of all Gun-powder or Gun-cotton from the Magazine, the Collector of Sea Customs shall and he is hereby authorized to levy a fee, the rate of which shall not exceed two annas per pound, for all Gun-powder or Gun-cotton that has been lodged therein, which fee shall be taken to cover all charges for the safe custody of the Gun-powder or Guncotton during the period it has remained; or shall remain in the Magazine; provided also, that the Governor of Bengal shall be at liberty to authorize such arrangement to be made, by letting or otherwise contracting for the custody of the Magazine, and for the collection and appropriation of the fees which may be charged for Gun-powder or Guncotton stored therein, as he may think proper, subject however to all the restrictions and rules imposed by this Section in respect to the removal from the Magazine of Gun-powder therein stored.

Section 43. Penalties

For every act done or omitted to be done contrary to the provisions of the last preceding Section by the Commander of any merchant vessel in the port of Calcutta, the Commander aforesaid shall, on conviction thereof before any Justice of the Peace, be liable to a penalty of two hundred rupees: and the Collector of Sea Customs is hereby empowered to search for any quantity of Gun-powder which he may have reason to believe to be on board a merchant vessel in the port of Calcutta, contrary to the provisions of this Act, and to seize and detain it as forfeited to Government, to be dealt with as the Governor of Bengal shall think right to direct.

Section 44. Jurisdiction of Justices on the River Hooghly

The jurisdiction of the Justices of the Peace acting within and for the said Town shall extend to all offences committed by any person in sea-going vessels in any part of the River Hooghiy, and the said Justices shall have the same power and jurisdiction in respect of criminal offences committed in sea-going vessels, in any part of the said river, that they now have and exercise within the said Town.

Section 45. Persons apprehended without warrant to be taken first to the Station-house and if not admitted to bail, to the Police Office

Every Officer belonging to the Calcutta Police is hereby authorized to arrest with a warrant any person committing in his view any offence against this Act, and every person taken into custody without warrant by any Constable belonging to the Calcutta Police, shall be forthwith taken to the Station-house to which the Constable belongs, in order that such person may be detained, until he can be brought before a Justice of the Peace to be dealt with according to law, or in order that such person may give bail for his appearance before a Justice of the Peace, if the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Inspector at the Station shall deem it prudent to take bail in the manner hereinafter mentioned, which he is hereby authorized to do.

Section 46. Power to take recognizances at Station-houses or Police Lock-up on certain charges

Whenever any person is brought to the Station-house as aforesaid charged with misdemeanor, assault, or with having carelessly done any hurt or damage, or whenever any Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Inspector of Police, or Town Serjeant in charge of a Police Lock-up, shall deem it probable that any person so brought is falsely or maliciously charged with having committed a felony, and any such person as aforesaid shall be, without the warrant of a Magistrate, in the custody of any Constable of the Calcutta Police, it shall be lawful for the Superintendent or any Deputy Superintendent of Police, if he shall deem it prudent, to enlarge such person on his own recognizance, with or without sureties, conditioned as hereinafter mentioned.

Section 47. Condition of recognizance

Every recognizance so taken shall be without fee or reward, and shall be conditioned for the appearance of the person thereby bound before a Justice of the Peace at his next sitting, and the time and place of appearance and the sum thereby acknowledged (not exceeding one thousand rupees) shall be specified in the said recognizance, or the condition thereof; and the Officer taking the recognizance shall enter into a book, to be kept for the purpose, the name, residence, and occupation of the party and his surety or sureties (if any) entering into such recognizance, together with the condition thereof, and the sum thereby acknowledged, and shall return every such recognizance to the Justice present at the time and place and when and where the party is bound to appear, and the said recognizance may be in either of the forms, as the case may be, in Schedule (A.) to this Act annexed, or to the like effect.

Section 48. Amends may be awarded for false or malicious charges

In every case in which any person shall be given in charge to a Constable, or in which any information or complaint of any offence shall be laid or made before any Justice of the Peace, and it shall appear to the Justice by whom the case shall be heard that there was no sufficient ground for making the charge, it shall be lawful for such Justice, at his discretion, to award such amends, not more than the sum of fifty rupees, to be paid by the informer to the party informed or complained against, for his loss of time and expenses in the matter, as to the Justice shall seem meet.

Section 49. Offences how to be tried

Every Justice of the Peace shall be empowered summarily to hear and determine every complaint of an offence committed against this Act, and to convict any person charged with any such offence on the oath of one or more witnesses, or by his own confession, and to award the penalty or punishment herein provided for such offence.

Section 50. Justices may proceed by summons, and if party does not appear may issue warrant

Upon any information or complaint to be laid or made before any Justice of the Peace (which complaint need not be made upon oath) of any matter which such Justice is authorized to hear and determine, either under this or any other Act or Regulation, he may summon the party charged, and if such party shall not appear according to the tenor of the summons, the Justice, upon proof of the service of the summons, may proceed, in all cases which are not of a criminal nature, if no sufficient cause shall be shown for the non-appearance of the party, to hear and determine the case in the absence of the party, and in all criminal cases shall issue his warrant for apprehending and bringing such party before him or some other Justice, in order that the said information and complaint may be heard and determined.

Section 51. How summons may be served

Every such summons may be served by delivering it or a copy thereof to the party, or to his wife, servant, or some inmate of his dwelling, or by delivering it at or affixing it to the door or wall of his usual place of abode.

Section 52. Justices may issue warrant without summons

A Justice of the Peace may, without issuing any summons, forthwith issue his warrant for the apprehension of any person charged with any offence cognizable before him, either under this or any other Act or Regulation, whenever good grounds for so doing shall be stated on oath before him.

Section 53. May enforce attendance of witnesses

Any Justice may summon any witness to appear and give evidence upon the matter of any offence cognizable before him, either under this or any other Act or Regulation, with which any person shall be charged before him, at a time and place appointed for hearing the information or complaint, and, by warrant under his hand and seal, may require any person to be brought before him who shall neglect or refuse to give evidence at the time and place appointed on such summons, proof upon oath being first given of personal service of the summons upon the person against whom such warrant shall be granted, and such Justice may commit any person coming or brought before him who shall refuse to give evidence, to the Common Gaol of Calcutta, for any time not exceeding fourteen days, or until such person shall sooner submit himself to be examined, and in case of such submission the order of such Justice shall be a sufficient warrant for the discharge of such person.

Section 54. Power to Magistrates to order prisoners to be brought up to the Police Office

When any Justice of the Peace is desirous of examining any prisoner confined in the Great Gaol or House of Correction as a witness or defendant, with respect to any charge, case, or proceeding pending before him, it shall be lawful for such Justice to issue an order in the form contained in Schedule (B.) to this Act annexed, or to the like effect, addressed to the Keeper or Governor of the said Gaol or House of Correction, requiring him to bring such prisoner in proper custody, at a time to be therein named, to the Police Office, for examination, and the Keeper or Governor of the said Gaol or House of Correction, on the receipt of such order, shall act in accordance therewith, and shall take care for the safe custody of the prisoner during his absence from prison for the purpose aforesaid.

Section 55. Recovery of penalties and forfeitures

All penalties and forfeitures and other sums of money imposed, awarded, or ordered to be paid by any Justice of the Peace under the authority of this Act, and all sums of money which any person is bound to pay under any recognizance taken before a Justice of the Peace or an Officer of Police empowered to take recognizances by this Act, and afterwards forfeited, in case of non-payment thereof, may be levied by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender or person liable to pay the same, by warrant under the hand of any Justice of the Peace, and in case any such penalty or forfeiture or sum of money shall not be forthwith paid, any Justice may order the party to be detained in safe custody until the return can be conveniently made to such warrant of distress, unless such party shall give security to the satisfaction of such Justice for his appearance at such place and time as shall be appointed for the return of the warrant of distress, and the Justice may take such security by way of recognizance or otherwise; and if upon the return of such warrant it shall appear that no such sufficient distress could he had whereon to levy the said penalty or forfeiture, or sum of money, and the same shall not be forthwith paid, or in case it shall appear, to the satisfaction of the Justice, by the confession of the party or otherwise, that he has not sufficient goods and chattels whereupon such penalty, forfeiture, or sum of money could be levied if warrant of distress should be issued, the Justice, by warrant under his hand, may commit such party to the Common Gaol of Calcutta, there to remain for any time not exceeding two Calendar months.

Section 56. Convictions to be quashed on merits only. Form of conviction, &c

No conviction, order, or judgment of any Justice of the Peace shall be quashed for error of form or procedure, but only on the merits; and it shall not be necessary to state on the lace of the conviction, order, or judgment, the evidence on which it proceeds; but the depositions taken, or a copy of them, shall he returned with the conviction, order, or judgment, in obedience to any writ of certiorari, and if no jurisdiction appears on the face of the conviction, order, or judgment, but the depositions taken supply that defect, the conviction, order, or judgment shall be aided by what so appears in such depositions.

Section 57.

57. In the construction of this Act the following words and expressions shall have the several meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in the context or subject repugnant to such construction; that is to say,

Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural, and words importing the plural number only shall include the singular.

Words importing the masculine gender only shall include females.

The word Town shall include the Town of Calcutta and Settlement of Fort William.

The word Justice or Justices of the Peace shall mean the Justices of the Peace for the time being acting within and for the said Town of Calcutta and Settlement of Fort William.

The word Oath shall mean any oath or solemn affirmation in lieu of an oath.

SCHEDULE A.

Form 1.

Be it remembered that on the day of in the year A.B., of and C.D., of and E.F., of personally came before me G.H., Superintendent of Police, and acknowledged themselves to owe to our Sovereign Lady the Queen; that is to say, the said A.B., the sum of Rupees Two Hundred, and the said C.D. and E.F. each the sum of Rupees One Hundred, separately, and of good and lawful money of British India, to be made and levied of their Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements respectively, to the use of our said Lady the Queen, Her heirs and successors, if the said A.B. shall make default in the condition hereinunder written. Acknowledged before me, G.H., Superintendent of Police. The condition of the above written recognizance is such that if the said A.B. shall appear before J.P., Justice of the Peace, at 10 O'clock in the morning of the day of in the year at the Police Office in Calcutta, then the said recognizance to be void, or else to stand in full force and virtue.

Form 2.

Be it remembered that on the day of in the year A.B., of personally came before me G.H., Superintendent of Police, and acknowledged himself to owe to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, the sum of Rupees Two Hundred, of good and lawful money of British India, to be made and levied of his Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, to the use of our said Lady the Queen. Her heirs and successors, if he, the said A.B., shall fail in the condition hereunder written.

Acknowledged before me,

G.H.,

Superintendent of Police.

The condition of the above written recognizance is such that if the said A.B. shall appear before J.P., Justice of the Peace, at 10 O'clock in the morning of the day of in the year at the Police Office in Calcutta, then the said recognizance to be void, or else to stand in full force and virtue.

Note. The words and figures in Italics in this Schedule to be filled up as the case may be.

SCHEDULE B.

Form of Order.

To A.B., Keeper of the Great Gaol of Calcutta, or Governor of the Home of Correction, as the case may be.

Bring before me in safe custody on the day of in the year C.D., a prisoner now in the (Great Gaol or House of Correction as the case may be) in order that the said C.D. may be examined by me as a (witness or defendant) with respect to (here state the charge, case or proceeding in respect of which the evidence of the prisoner is required.)

E.F.,
Justice of the Peace.