BACK TO SECTIONS
IPC 1860REPEALED

Section 271-293

Public Health and Safety: Disobedience to Quarantine Rule; Adulteration of Drugs; Sale of Adulterated Drugs; Fouling Water; Making Atmosphere Noxious; Rash Navigation; Rash Conduct with Machinery; Negligence Regarding Explosive Substances; Negligence Regarding Poison; Making/Selling Instruments for Counterfeiting; Keeping Lottery Office; Obscene Books

Replaced by: BNS BNS 273-296

BailableCognizable: Non-Cognizable / Cognizable (varies)Any Magistrate
THE STATUTE

Original Text

Section 271: Whoever knowingly disobeys any rule made and promulgated by the Government for putting any vessel into a state of quarantine, or for regulating the intercourse of vessels in a state of quarantine with the shore or with other vessels, or for regulating the intercourse between places where an infectious disease prevails and other places, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both. Section 274: Whoever adulterates any drug or medical preparation in such a manner as to lessen the efficacy or change the operation of such drug or medical preparation, or to make it noxious, intending that it shall be sold or used for, or knowing it to be likely that it will be sold or used for, any medicinal purpose, as if it had not undergone such adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both. Section 277: Whoever voluntarily corrupts or fouls the water of any public spring or reservoir, so as to render it less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Simplified

Sections 271–293 are the IPC's public health and safety cluster. Section 271 (disobeying quarantine rules) became highly relevant during COVID-19 — it directly addresses violations of quarantine orders. Section 274 (drug adulteration — up to 6 months) criminalises tampering with medicines, a provision increasingly important given India's large pharmaceutical sector. Section 277 (fouling public water sources) addresses environmental crime — pollution of public water supplies. Sections 279–289 address dangerous conduct: rash navigation (Section 280 — 6 months), riding or driving rashly on public ways (Section 279 — 6 months, already detailed), negligence with explosives (Section 286 — 6 months), negligence with fire (Section 285 — 6 months), negligent handling of poison (Section 284 — 6 months), and making or selling instruments for counterfeiting (Section 233 — 3 years). Section 292 (obscene books and material) and Section 293 (selling obscene material to minors — 3 years, Non-Bailable) complete this cluster.

Legal Evolution

Sections 271-293 cover a range of offences against public health, safety, and order — from quarantine violations and adulteration to rash driving and public nuisance. The drafters grouped these offences together as threats to the public welfare broadly conceived, recognizing that health, road safety, and environmental quality were collective concerns requiring criminal law protection. Sections 279-289 on rash driving and negligent handling of dangerous things have taken on increased importance with India's explosive growth in vehicle numbers.

Landmark Precedents

M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case) (1987)

AIR 1987 SC 1086
RELEVANCE

Established absolute liability for hazardous substances — complements IPC public health provisions (Sections 277–289) for environmental harm and public nuisance liability.

Practical Scenarios

"Violating mandatory quarantine by attending a public event knowing one is infected — Section 271."
"A pharmacist who dilutes antibiotic tablets reducing their efficacy — Section 274 (drug adulteration)."
"A factory that dumps chemicals directly into a public river — Section 277 (fouling water)."

Common Queries

Section 293 (selling obscene material to minors) is not about medicines — it addresses obscene material. Drug sale to minors is addressed by the NDPS Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Section 274 addresses drug adulteration.
Yes — Section 277 (fouling public water) and Section 278 (making atmosphere noxious) can apply alongside environmental protection legislation. The fines in the IPC are modest but criminal liability is additional to civil environmental remedies.