The rates of subsistence allowance are fixed on an estimate of the actual requirements of various classes of judgement-debtors based on the ordinary mode of their living. A civil prisoner should, therefore, be classified according to his status prior to his committal to jail. Care in the classification of civil prisoners is necessary so as to avoid short rations or having to live on a class of food to which they are unaccustomed. Committing debtor to prison to meant as penalty but not classification.
