CHAPTER 20 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS Section 238 - “Ill-treatment of Domestic Animal”: Whoever cruelly beats, tortures or otherwise willfully ill-treats any tame, domestic or wild animal, which has previously been deprived of its liberty, or arranges, promotes or organizes fights between cocks, rams, bulls or other domestic animals or encourages such act, commits an offence and shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months or with fine. Section 239 - “Overriding etc. and Neglect of Animal”: Whoever wantonly overrides, overdrives or overloads any animal or wantonly employs any animal, which by reason of age, sickness, wounds or infirmity is not in a condition to work, or neglects any animal in such a manner as to cause it unnecessary suffering, commits an offence and shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or with fine or with both. Section 240 - “Power to Order Temporary Custody or Destruction of Animal”: On conviction of an offence under section 238 or section 239 the court may in addition to or in substitution for any other penalty make an order for the temporary custody by the police of the animal in respect of which such offence has been committed and may order the person convicted to pay such sum meanwhile as the court thinks fit for the maintenance and treatment of such animal and such sum shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine inflicted under this Code; or, if such animal is suffering from incurable disease or injury, may order it to be destroyed. Section 241 - “Time Limit for Prosecution”: No proceedings in respect of an offence under this Chapter shall be taken after the expiration of one month from the commission of the offence. CHAPTER 21 OFFENCES RELATING TO RELIGION Section 242 - “Insulting or Exciting Contempt of Religious Creed”: Whoever by any means publicly insults or seeks to excite contempt of any religion in such a manner as to be likely to lead to a breach of the peace, commits an offence and shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or with fine or with both. 66