406. Any court may order payment of expenses of witnesses

Any court holding any inquiry or trial under the provisions of this Code may, in its discretion, order payment out of the Consolidated Fund to any of the witnesses as it thinks fit, of the expenses incurred by them severally in and about attending that court and also compensation for their trouble and loss of time subject to such rules as are prescribed:Provided that a District Court or Magistrate’s Court shall exercise this power only in cases where the prosecution is conducted by or by order of the Public Prosecutor or by the police or with the sanction of a Government officer given under any written law.[405