Section 21 in Punjab Prisoners (Attendance In Courts) Rules, 1969
21. Diet of prisoners during escort.
[(Section 9(2)(e)(f) and (g)]. - The Inspector-General of Prisons shall, from time to time, fix the scale of diet for prisoners removed under these rules, and the officer-in-charge of the escort shall provide prisoners with diet in accordance with such scale. Where the court in which evidence is to be given is situated at the station where the Prison from which the prisoner is removed is situated, the Superintendent of Prisons shall supply the prisoners food ready cooked. When the aforesaid court is situated at a distance, the estimated cost of the prisoners, ration shall be paid to the officer-in-charge of the police escort, by the Superintendent of Prisons. But it shall be in the competency of any court in criminal cases to decline to summon any prisoner if the court is satisfied that his evidence is not necessary in the interest of public justice and if the complainant and or defendant applying for the said prisoner's examination before the court fails to deposit the estimated cost of conveying the prisoner to and from the court. These costs shall be calculated on the scale hereinafter laid down in the cases of civil suits. If on examination of the said prisoner the court is of the opinion that his evidence was not required in the interest of the public justice, the deposited costs shall together with a certificate to the effect under the hand and seal of the court be forwarded to the Superintendent of Police of the district in which the court is held, and the money shall be credited according to the instruction to be issued by the Inspector-General of Police with the sanction of the State Government.Note. - The Officer-in-charge of the police escort will submit payment vouchers in support of the dietary charges incurred by him and a certificate of actual disbursement of the charges will be recorded by him on the payment vouchers.Explanation. - The expression "Public Justice" occurring in rule 21 above means "dictates of justice required in a particular case".
