Section 26:
Power of village courts to impose fine or to award compensation.
(1) A village court shall
record its decision in writing and may sentence an offender convicted by it to pay a fine not exceeding
two hundred rupees or in default to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.
(2) When a village court imposes a fine under sub-section (1), it may, when passing the order, direct
that whole or any part of the fine recovered shall be applied in payment of compensation for any loss or
injury caused by the offence.
(3) When a person has been sentenced to imprisonment under sub-section (1)
in default of payment of fine, if such fine be not paid within ten days of the passing of the sentence or within such further time,
if any, as the village court may allow, the court may cause him to be arrested and may commit him to the
nearest jail to serve his sentence:
Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)—
(a) the fine imposed by a village court shall not be realised from any person who has served his
term of imprisonment under this section;
(b) the person serving his term of imprisonment shall be forthwith released, if the fine is paid
before the expiry of the term of imprisonment:
Provided further that no woman shall be sentenced to imprisonment in default of payment of fine.