सं Samvidhan

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 388

Imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document

Why this exists

Courts depend on witnesses and document holders cooperating so that the truth can be established. Without a way to compel compliance, a stubborn or uncooperative witness could quietly derail a case. This section gives the court a firm but limited tool — short-term custody — to encourage cooperation, while still requiring the court to record its reasons and offer a real opportunity to explain any refusal first.