The Delhi government has moved a proposal to sharply increase penalties for various civic offenses to discourage public nuisance and improve city management. These updates are part of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, which amends the existing Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and the New Delhi Municipal Council Act. The primary goal is to shift from criminal punishment to administrative fines for minor violations while ensuring the penalty amounts are high enough to be effective in daily life.
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Major Hikes in Common Civic Violations
Under the new proposal, the fine for public urination and causing foul smells has been increased from Rs 50 to Rs 500. Officials have noted that the previous fines were too low to act as a deterrent. Pet owners will also face stricter rules, with fines for roaming dogs without a leash or failing to muzzle dangerous dogs increasing from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000. These changes aim to reduce the burden on courts by allowing municipal officers of assistant commissioner rank to handle these cases directly.
Complete Breakdown of Proposed Penalties
The Bill includes an automatic 10% hike in all fine amounts every three years to keep pace with inflation. It also removes jail terms for several minor offenses, replacing them with civil penalties. For more serious issues like dumping waste on streets or obstructing public ways, the penalty can reach up to Rs 5,000 along with potential imprisonment. Most minor civic offenses that previously had very small fines are being decriminalized to simplify administration.
| Offence Type | Proposed New Fine |
|---|---|
| Public Urination and Nuisance | Rs 500 |
| Unlicensed Food Vendors | Rs 1,000 |
| Pet Dog without Leash | Rs 1,000 |
| Defacing House Number | Rs 1,000 |
| Obstructing Municipal Officials | Rs 500 |
| Operating Market without License | Rs 2,000 |
| Dumping Items on Streets | Rs 5,000 |
