(1)Whoever having attained the age of 16 years and having the actual charge of or control over a child abandons, exposes or wilfully neglects or causes or procures him to be abandoned, neglected or exposed, in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary suffering or injury to his health shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.(2)Whoever, being an employer of a child, overworks him to an extent or ill- treats him in a manner so as to amount to gross cruelty, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.(3)For the purposes of this section injury to health includes injury to, or loss of, sight or hearing and injury to limb or organ of the body and any mental derangement, and a parent or other person legally liable to maintain a child shall be deemed to have neglected him in a manner likely to cause injury to his health if he, having means to provide adequate food, clothing, medical aid or lodging for the child, fails to make such provision.(4)A person may be convicted of an offence under this section notwithstanding that the actual suffering or injury to health was obviated by the action of another person.(5)Nothing in this section shall be construed to take away or affect the right of any parent, teacher or other person having the lawful control or charge of a child to administer punishment to such child.
