Child - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition child

Definition :

Child, means any person below the age of eighteen years and includes any adopted, step or foster child. [Protection of Woman from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (43 of 2005), s. 2(b)]

Child includes a still-born child. [Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (53 of 1961), s. 3 (b)]

Means a person who has not completed fourteen years of age. [Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966 (52 of 1966), s. 2 (b)]

Means a person who has not completed his fifteenth year of age. [Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948), s. 2 (c)]

Means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age. [Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (61 of 1986), s. 2 (ii)

Means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age. [Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Act, 1983 (35 of 1983), s. 3 (a)]


Means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age. [Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948), s. 2 (bb)]

Means a person who has not completed the age of sixteen years. [Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (10 of 1956), s. 2 (aa)]

Means a person who, if a male, has not completed twenty-one years of age, and if a female, has not completed eighteen years of age. [Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (19 of 1929), s. 2 (a)]

The word 'child' in s. 488 does not mean a minor son or daughter and the real limitation is contained in the expression 'unable to maintain itself. Where the word 'Child' is used in conjunction with parentage, it is not concerned with age, Nanak Chandra v. Chandra Kishore Aggarwal, AIR 1970 SC 446 (449): (1969) 3 SCC 802. [Criminal Procedure Code, (5 of 1898), s. 488]

Child, whether appellant-accused is covered by determination of age of accused as assessed by trial court was fifteen or sixteen years on the date of occurrence. Held, on the date of occurrence, the appellant was child with in the meaning of s. 2(4). Therefore conviction and sentence of fine of appellant u/ss. 302, 302/34, 307 and 307/34, I.P.C. while to be maintained, the sentence of life imprisonment to be set aside, Bhoop Ram v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 1989 (3) SCC 1 [Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, s. 2(4)].