Offence relating to public health MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Offence relating to public health - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points Section 278 of the Indian Penal Code: Making atmosphere noxious to health.—
Whoever voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key PointsSection 286 of IPC

• This Section deals with negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances.
• It states that whoever does, with any explosive substance, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any explosive substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from that substance, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
• It is a cognizable, bailable offence which is triable by any magistrate.

Additional InformationSunil Dutt Tripathi v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lucknow & Anr. 

• In this case, the applicant along with others was involved in firing with the intent to cause harm to the complainant and others but no injuries were reported.
• The applicant had been charge-sheeted under Sections 286, 323, 504, and 506 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and Section 30 of the Arms Act 1959.
• The applicant filed an application before the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking the release of his licensed pistol and four cartridges, but the application was rejected.
• Aggrieved by this, the applicant approached the Allahabad High Court.
• The High Court set aside the order of the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Court’s Observations:- 

• Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that firing a pistol in self-defence does not violate license conditions and does not appear to be an offence under Section 30 of the Arms Act, 1959.

The correct answer is option Section 277.Key Points

• Section 277 of Indian Penal Code 1860 deals with Fouling water of public spring or reservoir.
• 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. 

The correct option is Intentional act likely to spread infection of dangerous diseases.

Key Points

• If a person spreads a contagious disease to others knowing that it may cause death, invokes the offence under Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
• It is an aggravated form of an offence under Section 269 that is a negligent act likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to life.
• It aims to punish the people spreading the infectious disease dangerous to life. It is enshrined under Chapter XIV of the Indian Penal Code.
• The offence is classified under Schedule 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 (CrPC).
• The offence is not listed under Section 320 of the CrPC in the list of Compoundable offences.
• Section 270: Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  • “Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

Additional Information

• Examples of Invoking Section 270:
  • In the cases where the person is affected with HIV, he is not allowed to marry without disclosing it to his partners.
  • The section was invoked several times during the surge of Covid-19.
  • In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, intentional actions that contributed to the spread of the virus were prosecuted under this section.

The correct option is Disobedience of quarantine rules.

Key Points

• Section 271 of the Indian Penal Code:-
• This section deals with the disobedience of the Quarantine Rule.
• It states that 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, 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.
• The provision is a precautionary law to prevent the outbreak and punish the culprit who does not obey the guidelines for prevention.
• It is a non-cognizable, bailable, non-compoundable offence which is triable by any Magistrate.
• Circumstances for Implementation of Section 271:
  • Outbreaks
  • Epidemics
  • Pandemics
• Case: S K Chilamkurthi v. State of AP (2020) The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that during COVID-19 if the person has passed his quarantine period, he cannot be held liable under section 271 of the Indian Penal Code.

The correct answer is option Section 277.Key Points

• Section 277 of Indian Penal Code 1860 deals with Fouling water of public spring or reservoir.
• 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. 

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points In that case, a driver was found a guilty of negligence and punishable under Section 279 of the IPC. because speed is not only a parameter of rash and negligent under Section 279 of the IPC. even other parameter that are applicable are reasonable care and doctrine of res ipsa loquitur rule of last opportunity. Here the driver failed to look at his right side before turning at a cross road which is comes under the reasonable care. That's why he is punishable under Section 279 of IPC.

Additional Information Section 279 in The Indian Penal Code

Rash driving or riding on a public way.—

• Whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with im­prisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

The Correct answer is S.272

Key Points Section 272. Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale.- Whoever adulterates any article of food or drink, so as to make such article noxious as food or drink, intending to sell such article as food or drink, or knowing it to be likely that the same will be sold as food or drink, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. Non-Cognizable Bailable Non-Compoundable

The correct option is Disobedience of quarantine rules.

Key Points

• Section 271 of the Indian Penal Code:-
• This section deals with the disobedience of the Quarantine Rule.
• It states that 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, 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.
• The provision is a precautionary law to prevent the outbreak and punish the culprit who does not obey the guidelines for prevention.
• It is a non-cognizable, bailable, non-compoundable offence which is triable by any Magistrate.
• Circumstances for Implementation of Section 271:
  • Outbreaks
  • Epidemics
  • Pandemics
• Case: S K Chilamkurthi v. State of AP (2020) The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that during COVID-19 if the person has passed his quarantine period, he cannot be held liable under section 271 of the Indian Penal Code.

The correct answer is Section 295

Key Points

• Section 295 of IPC – Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class:
• Punishes acts where someone destroys, damages, or defiles a place of worship or sacred object with the intention of insulting a religion.
• This includes preventing a person from performing religious worship or ceremonies if such prevention involves damaging or defiling the place or object of worship.
• Punishment: Imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine, or both.
• Purpose of the Section:
  • To protect the freedom of religion under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
  • To maintain religious harmony and tolerance

Additional Information

• Section 296: Relates to disturbing religious assemblies, not preventing worship.
• Section 297: Concerns trespassing on burial places with intent to wound feelings.
• Section 295-A: Pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, not specifically about preventing worship.

The correct answer is public nuisance

Key Points 

• Defined under Section 268 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
  • What is Public Nuisance?
    • It is an act or omission which:
    • Causes common injury, danger, or annoyance to the public at large or to people in general,
    • Particularly to those who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity of the act.
• Key Elements:
  • The injury or inconvenience must be public in nature (not just to a few individuals).
  • Intention or knowledge is not necessary—negligent conduct may also attract liability.
• Examples:
  • Blocking a public road,
  • Letting out harmful smoke affecting a neighborhood,
  • Polluting a water source used by the public.

Additional Information

• Negligence: A general tort/criminal concept; not specifically related to common public injury.
• Trespass: Involves unauthorized entry into private property.
• Private Nuisance: Affects a specific individual or property, not the general public.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points Section 278 of the Indian Penal Code: Making atmosphere noxious to health.—
Whoever voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key PointsSection 286 of IPC

• This Section deals with negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances.
• It states that whoever does, with any explosive substance, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any explosive substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from that substance, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
• It is a cognizable, bailable offence which is triable by any magistrate.

Additional InformationSunil Dutt Tripathi v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lucknow & Anr. 

• In this case, the applicant along with others was involved in firing with the intent to cause harm to the complainant and others but no injuries were reported.
• The applicant had been charge-sheeted under Sections 286, 323, 504, and 506 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and Section 30 of the Arms Act 1959.
• The applicant filed an application before the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking the release of his licensed pistol and four cartridges, but the application was rejected.
• Aggrieved by this, the applicant approached the Allahabad High Court.
• The High Court set aside the order of the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Court’s Observations:- 

• Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that firing a pistol in self-defence does not violate license conditions and does not appear to be an offence under Section 30 of the Arms Act, 1959.

The correct answer is option Section 277.Key Points

• Section 277 of Indian Penal Code 1860 deals with Fouling water of public spring or reservoir.
• 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. 

The correct option is Intentional act likely to spread infection of dangerous diseases.

Key Points

• If a person spreads a contagious disease to others knowing that it may cause death, invokes the offence under Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
• It is an aggravated form of an offence under Section 269 that is a negligent act likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to life.
• It aims to punish the people spreading the infectious disease dangerous to life. It is enshrined under Chapter XIV of the Indian Penal Code.
• The offence is classified under Schedule 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 (CrPC).
• The offence is not listed under Section 320 of the CrPC in the list of Compoundable offences.
• Section 270: Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  • “Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

Additional Information

• Examples of Invoking Section 270:
  • In the cases where the person is affected with HIV, he is not allowed to marry without disclosing it to his partners.
  • The section was invoked several times during the surge of Covid-19.
  • In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, intentional actions that contributed to the spread of the virus were prosecuted under this section.