24. (1) The Court of a Magistrate may award such term of imprisonment in default of payment of fine as is authorised by law:
Provided that the term-
(a) is not in excess of the powers of the Magistrate under section 23;
(b) shall not, where imprisonment has been awarded as part of the substantive sentence, exceed one-fourth of the term of imprisonment which the Magistrate is competent to inflict as punishment for the offence otherwise than as imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
(2) The imprisonment awarded under this section may be in addition to a substantive sentence of imprisonment for the maximum term awardable by the Magistrate under section 23.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 21 Courts by which offences are triable
Section 22 Sentences which High Courts and Sessions Judges may pass
Section 23 Sentences which Magistrates may pass
Section 24 Sentence of imprisonment in default of fine
Section 25 Sentence in cases of conviction of several offences at one trial
Section 26 Mode of conferring powers
Section 27 Powers of officers appointed
Section 28 Withdrawal of powers
Section 29 Powers of Judges and Magistrates exercisable by their successors-inoffice