IPC Section 270 — Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life

Summary

If a person deliberately and with ill intent does something that they know or have reason to believe will likely spread a life-threatening disease, they can be punished. The punishment can be imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.

Official Text

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.

Related Judgments

• HYDRO-ELECTRIC EMPLOYEES UNION, U.P. AND ORS v. SUDHIR KUMAR SHARMA AND ORS. ETC. AUGUST 25, 1998 — Supreme Court of India (S)
• S.C.R. 381 SMT. SELVI & ORS v. STATE OF KARNATAKA — Supreme Court of India (2010)
• SABHAJEET MAURYA v. STATE NCT OF DELHI — High Court of Delhi (2020)
• ANKUR MUTREJA v. STATE OF DELHI . — High Court of Delhi (2021)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.48 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• ... Petitioner/Accused vs Dongsan Automative India Pvt., Ltd., — Madras High Court (2010)
• AMIT BHARGAVA v. THE STATE (NCT OF DELHI) — High Court of Delhi (2020)
• S.C.R. 35 35 DEEPAK S/O LAXMAN DONGRE v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §272 — Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life