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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XV: Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience,

Section 297 BNS: Keeping lottery office

Corresponding IPC
Section 294A IPC
Punishment
(1) Imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine, or both; (2) fine up to Rs 5,000
Note
Sub-section (2) fine specified at Rs 5,000.

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
297(1)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate
297(2)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate

As per the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Bare Act text

(1) Whoever keeps any office or place for the purpose of drawing any lottery not being a State lottery or a lottery authorised by the State Government, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both. CHAPTER XVI

(2) Whoever publishes any proposal to pay any sum, or to deliver any goods, or to do or forbear from doing anything for the benefit of any person, on any event or contingency relative or applicable to the drawing of any ticket, lot, number or figure in any such lottery, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Sub-section (1) punishes keeping an office or place for drawing a lottery that is neither a State lottery nor authorised by the State Government. Sub-section (2) punishes publishing proposals to pay money or deliver goods on events relating to the drawing of tickets in such a lottery.

Chapter XV: Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience,

  1. 270 Public nuisance
  2. 271 Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  3. 272 Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  4. 273 Disobedience to quarantine rule
  5. 274 Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
  6. 275 Sale of noxious food or drink
  7. 276 Adulteration of drugs
  8. 277 Sale of adulterated drugs
  9. 278 Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
  10. 279 Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
  11. 280 Making atmosphere noxious to health
  12. 281 Rash driving or riding on a public way
  13. 282 Rash navigation of vessel
  14. 283 Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
  15. 284 Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
  16. 285 Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
  17. 286 Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
  18. 287 Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
  19. 288 Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
  20. 289 Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
  21. 290 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc
  22. 291 Negligent conduct with respect to animal
  23. 292 Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
  24. 293 Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
  25. 294 Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc
  26. 295 Sale, etc., of obscene objects to child
  27. 296 Obscene acts and songs
  28. 297 Keeping lottery office
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