Offences Against Unborn and Newborn Child under BNS, 2023
Introduction It is a natural law that a person who is born must die one day. However, an act that intentionally leads to the death of an unborn or newborn child is a serious criminal offence. Such acts are not only legally punishable but also morally unacceptable. One of the major reasons behind such offences, especially in India, has been the preference for a male child. It is often believed that a male child will take care of parents in old age. This leads to the harsh reality where, despite worshipping goddesses, female children are sometimes killed before or immediately after birth. Offences Against Newborn and Unborn Children Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, provisions relating to unborn and newborn children are largely derived from earlier IPC Sections 312–318. These offences include: ● Causing miscarriage ● Miscarriage without consent ● Death caused by miscarriage ● Injury to unborn child ● Exposure and abandonment of infant ● Concealment of birth 1. Causing Miscarriage ...