IPC §491 → BNS §357
Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
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Comparison
491. Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person.—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.
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.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 491 modified by BNS 357 with fine cap raised from ₹200 to ₹5,000.
Old position
IPC 491 is concerned with Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person. Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
New position
BNS 357 modifies the framework. Topic: Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person. 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
BNS 357 modifies IPC 491. IPC 491 modified by BNS 357 with fine cap raised from ₹200 to ₹5,000. BNS 357 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...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS-357 reproduces IPC-491's framework on breach of contract to attend on helpless person character-identically with drafting tidy-up. Punishment levels preserved.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 491 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 357 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 357 (Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person). The relationship is classified as modified — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Government source
The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.
Indian Penal Code, 1860 · §491
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Indian Penal Code, 1860 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · PDF
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · §357
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · PDF
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Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §491 → BNS §357 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-29, https://newlaws.in/ipc/491.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.