BNS Section 277: Sale of adulterated drugs
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 15: Of Offences Affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, - Decency and Morals
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¶277. Whoever, knowing any drug or medical preparation to have been adulterated in such a manner as to lessen its efficacy, to change its operation, or to render it noxious, sells the same, or offers or exposes it for sale, or issues it from any dispensary for medicinal purposes as unadulterated, or causes it to be used for medicinal purposes by any person not knowing of the adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 275. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
277Sale of adulterated drugs.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 5,000 rupees, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- Non‑cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 179. The Schedule gives the substance of the section, not its full definition, and a State may have amended the classification for its territory. See it in the full First Schedule
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 270. Public nuisance
- 271. Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- 272. Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- 273. Disobedience to quarantine rule
- 274. Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
- 275. Sale of noxious food or drink
- 276. Adulteration of drugs
- 278. Sale of a drug as a different drug or preparation
- 279. Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
- 280. Making the atmosphere noxious to health
- 281. Rash driving or riding on a public way
- 282. Rash navigation of a vessel
- 283. Exhibition of a false light, mark, or buoy
- 284. Conveying a person by water for hire in an unsafe or overloaded vessel
- 285. Danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation
- 286. Negligent conduct with respect to a poisonous substance
- 287. Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
- 288. Negligent conduct with respect to an explosive substance
- 289. Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
- 290. Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing, or constructing buildings, etc
- 291. Negligent conduct with respect to an animal
- 292. Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
- 293. Continuance of a nuisance after an injunction to discontinue
- 294. Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc
- 295. Sale, etc., of obscene objects to a child
- 296. Obscene acts and songs
- 297. Keeping a lottery office