Section I

I. IT is hereby enacted, that in all cases of fines by which offenders are or may be punishable by any Magistrate, according to the Provisions of any Act heretofore passed or which shall hereafter be passed by the Governor General of India in Council, it shall be lawful, in case of non-payment, if no other means for enforcing the payment are or shall be provided by such Act or otherwise, for the Magistrate, by warrant under his hand, to levy the amount of such fine by distress and sale of any goods and chattels of the offender which may be found within the jurisdiction of such Magistrate, and if no such property shall be found within such jurisdiction, then it shall be lawful for every such Magistrate by warrant under his hand, to commit the offender to prison, there to be imprisoned only, or to be imprisoned and kept to hard labor, according to the discretion of such Magistrate, for any term not exceeding two calendar months, where the amount of the fine shall not exceed 50 Rupees, and for any term not exceeding four calendar months, where the amount shall not exceed 100 Rupees, and for any term not exceeding six calendar months in any other case, the commitment to be determinable in each of the cases aforesaid upon payment of the amount.