Authority to correct child, or other similar person

(1) A blow or other force not in any case extending to a wound or grievous harm may be justified for the purpose of correction, as follows– (a) a parent may correct his child being under sixteen years of age, or any guardian or person acting as a guardian may correct his ward being under sixteen years of age, for misconduct, or for disobedience to any lawful command; (b) a parent or guardian, or person acting as a guardian may delegate to any person whom he entrusts permanently or temporarily with the governance or custody of his child or ward all his own authority for correction, including the power to determine in what cases correction ought to be inflicted, and such delegation shall be presumed, except in so far as it is expressly withheld, in the case of a schoolmaster or person acting as a schoolmaster in respect of a child or ward. (2) A person who is authorised to inflict correction as in this section mentioned may, in any particular case, delegate to any fit person the infliction of such correction. (3) No correction can be justified which is unreasonable in kind or in degree regard being had to the age and physical and 45 mental condition of the person on whom it is inflicted, and no correction can be justified in the case of a person who, by reason of tender years or otherwise, is incapable of understanding the purpose for which it is inflicted.