Skip to content
Friday, 13 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Part XI: Miscellaneous

Section 135A CPC: Exemption of members of legislative bodies from arrest and detention under civil process

Bare Act text

[135A. Exemption of members of legislative bodies from arrest and detention under civil process.—[(1) No person shall be liable to arrest or detention in prison under civil process—

(a) if he is a member of—

(i) either House of Parliament, or

(ii) the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State, or

(iii) a Legislative Assembly of a Union territory, during the continuance of any meeting of such House of Parliament or, as the case may be, of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council;

(b) if he is a member of any committee of—

(i) either House of Parliament, or

(ii) the Legislative Assembly of a State or Union territory, or

(iii) the Legislative Council of a State, during the continuance of any meeting of such committee;

(c) if he is a member of—

(i) either House of Parliament, or

(ii) a Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State having both such Houses, during the continuance of a joint sitting, meeting, conference or joint committee of the Houses of Parliament or, Houses of the State Legislature, as the case may be, and during the forty days before and after such meeting, sitting or conference.]

(2) A person released from detention under sub-section (1) shall, subject to the provisions, of the said sub-section, be liable to re-arrest and to the further detention to which he would have been liable if he had not been released under the provisions of sub-section (1).]

Amendment notes

  1. Ins. by Act 23 of 1925, s. 3.
  2. Subs. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 45, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

Text of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act No. 5 of 1908), as amended, including the changes for commercial disputes made by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

No member of either House of Parliament, a State Legislative Assembly or Council, or a Union territory Legislative Assembly is liable to arrest or detention in prison under civil process during meetings of the House, or of a committee of which he is a member. The exemption also extends to a period before and after such meetings, as the section specifies. The 1976 amendment substituted sub-section (1), and the section applies to civil process generally rather than only to execution.

Part XI: Miscellaneous

  1. 132 Exemption of certain women from personal appearance
  2. 133 Exemption of other persons
  3. 134 Arrest other than in execution of decree
  4. 135 Exemption from arrest under civil process
  5. 135A Exemption of members of legislative bodies from arrest and detention under civil process
  6. 136 Procedure where person to be arrested or property to be attached is outside district
  7. 137 Language of subordinate Courts
  8. 138 Power of High Court to require evidence to be recorded in English
  9. 139 Oath on affidavit by whom to be administered
  10. 140 Assessors in causes of salvage, etc
  11. 141 Miscellaneous proceedings
  12. 142 Orders and notices to be in writing
  13. 143 Postage
  14. 144 Application for restitution
  15. 145 Enforcement of liability of surety
  16. 146 Proceedings by or against representatives
  17. 147 Consent or agreement by persons under disability
  18. 148 Enlargement of time
  19. 148A Right to lodge a caveat
  20. 149 Power to make up deficiency of court-fees
  21. 150 Transfer of business
  22. 151 Saving of inherent powers of Court
  23. 152 Amendment of judgments, decrees or orders
  24. 153 General power to amend
  25. 153A Power to amend decree or order where appeal is summarily dismissed
  26. 153B Place of trial to be deemed to be open Court
  27. 154 Saving of present right of appeal (Repealed)
  28. 155 Amendment of certain Acts (Repealed)
  29. 156 Repeals (Repealed)
  30. 157 Continuance of orders under repealed enactments
  31. 158 Reference to Code of Civil Procedure and other repealed enactments