Section 279: Penalty for failure to give information of cholera, smallpox, etc

Whoever —

(a) being a medical practitioner and in the course of such practice becoming cognizant of the existence of cholera, plague, small-pox or other infectious disease that may be notified¹ in this behalf by the ²[State Government] in any dwelling other than a public hospital in the municipality, or

(b) in default of such medical practitioner, being the owner or occupier of such dwelling, and being cognizant of the existence of any such infectious disease therein, or

(c) in default of such owner or occupier, being the person in charge of, or in attendance on, a person suffering from any such infectious disease in such dwelling and being cognizant of the existence of the disease therein, fails to give ³[within twenty-four hours of becoming so cognizant], or gives false information to such officer as the Municipality may appoint in this behalf respecting the existence of such disease, shall be liable upon conviction to a fine which may extend to fifty rupees :

Provided that a person not required to give information in the first instance, but only in default of some other persons, shall not be punishable if it is shown that he had reasonable cause to suppose that the information had been or would be duly given.