Description of imprisonment for non-payment of fine

If someone cannot pay a court-ordered fine, the court may convert the unpaid fine into imprisonment. That imprisonment can be any type the law allows for the original offence (for example the same kind of simple or rigorous imprisonment). This rule applies only when the fine is not paid.

Priya is fined by the court for damaging a neighbour's shop but cannot pay the fine. Because she defaulted, the court can impose imprisonment instead, and it may be any kind of imprisonment that the offence allows (for example a short term of simple imprisonment).