Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
Section 5: Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc
Whoever on the ground of "untouchability"—
(a) refuses admission to any person to any hospital, dispensary, educational institution or any hostel 1 ***, if such hospital, dispensary, educational institution or hostel is established or maintained for the benefit of the general public or any section thereof; or
(b) does any act which discriminates against any such person after admission to any of the aforesaid institutions,
[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees].
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 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.