Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 290
repealedPunishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
Whoever commits a public nuisance in any case not otherwise punishable by this Code, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
Why this exists
Public nuisance covers acts that cause common inconvenience or harm to the public or people in a neighbourhood, and this section acts as a residual, catch-all offence for such conduct that does not fit neatly into other specific sections (like those on noxious air, fire, or animals). It keeps the fine small since it targets minor, everyday annoyances rather than serious crimes. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, this offence continues under a renumbered section.