Section 490 is still valid law today.

It was repealed way back in 1925 and has no legal force; quitting a job is a civil, not criminal, matter.

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 490

repealed

Breach of contract of service during voyage or journey.

Repealed by the Workmen’s Breach of Contract (Repealing) Act, 1925 (3 of 1925), S. 2 and Sch.§

Why this exists

Section 490 originally let employers use criminal law to punish sailors, servants, or workers who deserted or broke a contract to work during a voyage or long journey. Such laws were common in the colonial era when employers wanted strong tools to bind labourers to their contracts. As labour law developed, Parliament decided that breaking a work contract should be a civil matter, not a crime, so this section and related ones were repealed in 1925.

Common misconceptions

Myth: Section 490 is still valid law today.
Fact: It was repealed way back in 1925 and has no legal force; quitting a job is a civil, not criminal, matter.