Section 0

SALT LAWS, MADRAS ACT, 1840 ACT NO. XVII. OF 1840 (Rep., Mad. Act 4 of 1889) [10th August, 1840.] Passed by the Right Hon'ble the Governor General of India in Council, On the 10th August, 1840. An Act for amending Regulation V. of 1831 of the Madras Code as for as the same regards penalties for certain breaches of the Salt Lows. WHEREAS great inconvenience has been experienced, in consequence of sending persons accused of petty offences against the Salt Laws for trial in the Criminal Courts, who might be more conveniently tried by Magistrates as in the case of other offences subject to the same amount of punishment: It is hereby enacted in modification of regulation V. of 1831 of the Madras Code, that all penalties prescribed by the Madras Code for any breaches of the Salt Laws shall be recoverable before the Magistrate of the district: Provided always, that it shall be lawful for any such Magistrate before whom any person shall be charged with the commission of any offence against the Salt Laws, at his discretion, to proceed against such person in the same manner as against persons charged with offences the punishment of which rests with the Criminal Court. Provided also, that no Magistrate shall, under the authority of this Act, punish any offender by a fine exceeding 50 Rupees, or by imprisonment with or without labor for a longer period than thirty days.