Whoever, being the father or mother of a child under the age of 12 years, or having the care of such child, exposes or leaves such child in any place with the intention of wholly abandoning such child shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.
Section history
Section 317 — Exposure and abandonment of a child under 12 years by parent or person having care of it
As in force on 1 October 2017.
Timeline 4 versions
- 30 March 1987 Enacted
- 30 November 2008 Revised edition
- 1 October 2017 You are here
- 31 December 2021 Revised edition
- 17 August 2026 Latest
Explanation.—This section is not intended to prevent the trial of the offender for murder or culpable homicide as the case may be, if the child dies in consequence of the exposure.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 317]