Section 55 - Correction of child, pupil, servant or wife.

(1) Nothing is an offence which does not amount to the infliction of child, pupil, grievous hurt upon a person and which is done-

(a) by a parent or guardian for the purpose of correcting his child or ward that child or ward being under eighteen years of age; or

(b) by a schoolmaster for the purpose of correcting a child under eighteen years of age entrusted to his charge; or

(c) by a master for the purpose of correcting his servant or apprentice, the servant or apprentice being under eighteen years of age; or

(d) by a husband for the purpose of correcting his wife such husband and wife being subject to any customary law in which the correction is recognized as lawful.

(2) No correction is justifiable which is unreasonable in kind or in degree, regard being had to the age and physical and mental condition of the person on whom it is inflicted; and no correction is justifiable 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.