IPC Section 491 — Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless persons

Summary

If a person has a legal agreement to take care of someone who is helpless due to youth, mental illness, disease, or physical weakness, and they deliberately fail to provide that care or meet that person's basic needs, they can be punished. The punishment can be imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to two hundred rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, being bound by a lawful contract to attend on or to supply the wants of any person who, by reason of youth, or of unsoundness of mind, or of a disease or bodily weakness, is helpless or incapable of providing for his own safety or of supplying his own wants, voluntarily omits so to do, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.

Related Judgments

• S.C.R. MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI v. MANISH SISODIA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• CRL RC/1796/2003 — Madras High Court (2003)
• CRL RC/1795/2003 — Madras High Court (2003)
• S.C.R. 884 884 VIJAY KUMAR GHAI & ORS v. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• RAGHUNATH ANANT GOVILKAR v. STATE OF 585 MAHARASHTRAAND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2008)
• SC (1960) Vol.3 p.311 — Supreme Court of India (1960)
• PUCL) v. Union of India & Anr. (1997) 1 SCC 301 : — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• .. Petitioners/A1 to A4 vs M/s.P.M.Associates — Madras High Court (2012)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §357 — Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person