Delhi Municipal Act Fines Increase

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, introduced in the India — Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, proposes significant amendments to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. These changes include a substantial increase in fines for various civic offenses, such as letting dogs roam without a leash (from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000), tethering cattle on public roads (from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000), and defacing house numbers (from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000). Sanitation and building-related penalties are also set to rise. The bill also aims to decriminalise certain outdated provisions, like the imprisonment of municipal sweepers for absence without notice, replacing it with a civil penalty. Conversely, some minor offenses, such as depositing items in streets or obstructing public ways, will be upgraded to criminal liabilities, potentially leading to imprisonment and higher fines. A key procedural shift involves moving the adjudication of most violations from criminal courts to municipal officers, with a 30-day appeal window and a six-month disposal deadline.