§ 273 Witness not giving undertaking committed, when.

Here's what this rule means. If a judge orders a witness to promise they will show up and testify (sometimes with someone backing that promise), the witness has to agree to it. This promise is called an undertaking.

If the witness refuses to make this promise, the judge can send them to jail. The witness stays in jail until they agree to the terms, or until the court releases them some other legal way.

In short, witnesses cannot simply refuse to guarantee their appearance in court. Refusing can lead to jail time until the witness cooperates or the court decides to let them go.