Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 273
Disobedience to quarantine rule
Whoever knowingly disobeys any rule made by the Government for putting any mode of transport into a state of quarantine, or for regulating the intercourse of any such transport in a state of quarantine 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.
Why this exists
Quarantine rules are a key public health tool for stopping outbreaks from spreading, whether by sea, air, or land. This section, carried over from the old IPC Section 271, ensures that deliberately ignoring lawfully imposed quarantine measures carries a criminal consequence, reinforcing the government's ability to contain disease.