Sections 269 & 270 IPC invoked are being invoked against persons who malignantly do any act which is likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life.

Sections 269 and 270 of the IPC

• Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) come under Chapter XIV of the IPC.
• The chapter is named ‘Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals’.
• While Section 269 provides for a jail term of six months and/or fine, Section 270 provides for a jail term of two years and/or fine.
• In Section 270, the word ‘malignantly’ indicates a deliberate intention on the part of the accused.
• During the coronavirus outbreak, penal provisions, such as Sections 188, 269 and 270 of the IPC, are being invoked to enforce the lockdown orders in various states.

Earlier instances of invocation

• Both Sections have been used for over a century to punish those disobeying orders issued for containing epidemics.
• The Sections were similarly enforced by colonial authorities during outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox and bubonic plague.
  

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