Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 277
repealedFouling 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.
Why this exists
Public springs and reservoirs are shared water sources that entire communities may depend on for drinking, washing, or irrigation. This section protects that shared resource by punishing anyone who deliberately dirties or contaminates it, recognising that polluting a public water source harms everyone who relies on it, not just one person. Replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, effective 1 July 2024.