Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIX: Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc. · Of breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
Section 357: Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
In plain words
Someone bound by a lawful contract to look after, or provide for, a person who is helpless because of youth, unsoundness of mind, disease or bodily weakness, and who voluntarily fails to do so, is punishable with up to three months in prison, or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
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 five thousand rupees, or with both.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 357
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.