Special Offences Relating to Children
Section 34:
Unauthorized Custody
Whoever takes a destitute and neglected child into custody or keeps him in contravention of the provisions of this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
Section 35:
Cruelty to Children
Whoever not being apparent, having the actual; charge of or control over a child, willfully, assaults, ill- treats, neglect, abandons or exposes him or causes or procures him to be assaulted, ill treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed or negligently fails to provide adequate food, clothes or medical aid or lodging for the child in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental and physical suffering, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both: Provided that where some punishment is administered to a child by the person having lawful control or custody of the child, for any good or sufficient reason, it shall not deemed to be a offence under this section.
Section 37:
Giving intoxicating liquor or narcotic Drug to Child
Whoever gives or causes to be given to any child any intoxicant or narcotic drug, except upon the prescription of dully qualified medical practitioner, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
Section 38:
Permitting Child to enter places where liquor or narcotic drugs are sold
Whoever-
(i) Takes a child to any place where an intoxicant is served or consumed; or
(ii) Being the proprietor, owner or a person in charge of such place, permits a child to enter such place; or
(iii) Causes or procures a child to go to such place; shall be punished with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.
Section 39:
Inciting child to bet or borrow
Whoever, by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or otherwise, incites or attempts to incite a child to make any bet or wager or to enter into or take any share or interest in any betting or wagering transaction shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
Section 40:
Exposure to seduction
Whoever secures custody of child ostensibly for any purpose but exposes such a child to the risk of seduction, sodomy, prostitution or other immoral conditions, shall be punished with imprisonment f either description for a term which may extend t three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
Section 41:
Abetting escape of child
Whoever-
(a) knowingly assists or induces, directly or indirectly, a child admitted in a child protection institution to escape from the institution or from the custody of a suitable person to whom custody of the child has been entrusted by the court; or
(b) Knowingly harbors, conceals, connives at or prevent form returning to child protection institution or to any person to whom the custody of the child was entrusted by the Court or assists or connives at so doing; shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.