Section 55. Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life

55. Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life. - 55A. Definition of "appropriate Government". 56. [ Repealed .]. 57. Fractions of terms of punishment. 58. [ Repealed. ]. 59. [ Repealed .]. 55. Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life . — In every case in which sentence of 7[imprisonment] for life shall have been passed, 8[the appropriate Government] may, without the consent 1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1942, s. 2 (w.e.f. 14-2-1942). 2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch., for " Secondly .—Transportation" (w.e.f. 1-1-1956). 3. The words "Thirdly,--Penal servitude;" omitted by Act 17 of 1949, s. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949). 4. Ins. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch. (w.e.f. 1-1-1956). 5. Subs. by Act 36 of 1957, s. 3 and the Second Sch., for "1954" (w.e.f. 17-9-1957). 6. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "the Central Government or the Provincial Government of the Province within which the offender shall have been sentenced". The words in italics were subs. by the A.O. 1937, for "the Government of India or the Government of the place". 7. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch., for "transportation" (w.e.f. 1-1-1956). 8. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for " the Provincial Government of the Province within which the offender shall have been sentenced". The words in italics were subs. by the A.O. 1937, for "the Government of India or the Government of the place". of the offender, commute the punishment for imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding fourteen years. 1[55A. Definition of "appropriate Government" . — In sections fifty-four and fifty-five the expression "appropriate Government" means, — (a) in cases where the sentence is a sentence of death or is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, the Central Government; and (b) in cases where the sentence (whether of death or not) is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends, the Government of the State within which the offender is sentenced.] 56. [ Sentence of Europeans and Americans to penal servitude. Proviso as to sentence for term exceeding ten years but not for life .] Rep. by the Criminal Law (Removal of Racial Discriminations) Act , 1949 (17 of 1949) ( w. e. f. 6-4-1949).