Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
What this section does
Punishes voluntary corruption or fouling of the water of any public spring or reservoir so as to make it less fit for its ordinary use. The act must be voluntary and must actually diminish the fitness of the water for its normal purpose.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- Imprisonment of either description for up to 6 months, or fine up to ₹5,000, or both.
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Cognizable
- No
- Bailable
- Yes
- Compoundable
- No
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- The accused corrupted or fouled the water of a public spring or reservoir
- The act was done voluntarily
- The corruption or fouling rendered the water less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used
Derived from IPC s.277.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 279, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 279 forms part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.