Mental Treatment Act, 1945

Concealment of patient, etc.

251.—Where any person—

(a) conceals a patient in a mental institution, or

(b) induces or assists the escape or attempted escape of a patient in a mental institution, or

(c) induces or assists a patient who—

(i) is absent on trial or parole from a mental institution, or

(ii) has been removed for treatment or for the benefit of his health from a mental institution, or

(iii) has been boarded out by a mental hospital authority,

to escape or leave the place where he is maintained while absent on trial or parole, under treatment, or for the benefit of his health, or while boarded out, or

(d) harbours or conceals a patient who has so escaped,

such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.