138 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.
Q1 · easy · IPC S.268
Under Section 268 of the IPC, which of the following most accurately describes a 'public nuisance'?
- A.An act or an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or to people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right.✓ correct
- B.Only an intentional act that causes property damage to a single person.
- C.A private dispute between neighbours that does not affect others.
- D.Any lawful act that causes temporary inconvenience to one person.
Why: Section 268 defines public nuisance as any act or illegal omission causing common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or people in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause such effects for users of a public right. The provision's language matches the first option exactly.
Read Section 268 — Public nuisance →Q2 · easy · IPC S.268
Does Section 268 include omissions within the scope of 'public nuisance'?
- A.No — it covers only positive acts.
- B.Only omissions that are accidental.
- C.Yes — illegal omissions that cause common injury, danger or annoyance are included.✓ correct
- D.Only omissions that affect the entire country.
Why: The provision expressly states 'does any act or is guilty of an illegal omission' — thereby including illegal omissions that cause common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or those in the vicinity.
Read Section 268 — Public nuisance →Q3 · medium · IPC S.268
According to Section 268, must a public nuisance affect the whole public, or can it be limited in scope?
- A.It must affect the entire population to qualify as public nuisance.
- B.It can be limited to people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity.✓ correct
- C.It applies only to persons who actually use a public right, not to nearby residents.
- D.It applies only when government property or officials are affected.
Why: The provision covers 'the public or the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity,' showing that a nuisance need not affect the entire population and may be limited to those in the vicinity.
Read Section 268 — Public nuisance →Q4 · medium · IPC S.268
If an act will necessarily cause obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right but no one has yet been obstructed, is it covered by Section 268?
- A.No — actual injury or obstruction must have already occurred.
- B.Yes — but only if there is imminent physical danger.
- C.No — only if a significant number of people have already been affected.
- D.Yes — acts that 'must necessarily cause' such injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance are included even if no one has yet been affected.✓ correct
Why: Section 268 includes acts 'which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right,' so a prospective or inevitable harm to public right users falls within the definition even if not yet realized.
Read Section 268 — Public nuisance →Q5 · hard · IPC S.268
Which of the following would NOT, by itself, constitute a 'public nuisance' under Section 268?
- A.An act causing common annoyance to people in the vicinity.
- B.An illegal omission that necessarily causes obstruction to users of a public right.
- C.An act causing injury solely to a single individual who is not part of the public or nearby residents.✓ correct
- D.An act creating danger to persons who may have occasion to use a public right.
Why: Section 268 requires common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or people in the vicinity, or effects on users of public rights. Harm confined solely to a single unrelated individual does not satisfy the 'public' or 'people in general' requirement and so would not by itself be a public nuisance.
Read Section 268 — Public nuisance →133 more questions on Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency And Morals
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