In an intensified push to ensure urban sanitation, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has launched a major enforcement drive penalizing individuals who soil public spaces or practice open urination. During the five months following the implementation of the Jan Vishwas Act, civic enforcement teams issued 27,915 notices between late May and October 28, levying penalties amounting to Rs 2.31 crore. Data indicates that approximately every fourth violation pertained to open defecation or urination, littering, or causing damage to public property.
Enforcement Under Section 397 for Public Nuisance
A significant portion of the civic action focused on maintaining order under Section 397 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. Nearly 7,000 challans fell under the category of public nuisance. This section prohibits activities such as pasting unauthorized posters on boundary walls, urinating in public spots, scattering refuse across footpaths, and similar civic violations.
Between August and October, civic squads issued 3,633 challans specifically for Section 397 nuisance offenses, carrying penalties of Rs 18.16 lakh. Out of these, violators have settled 1,810 penalties. Furthermore, civic authorities issued 3,180 challans for leaving garbage or filth unattended for more than 24 hours, while 2,764 notices were served to property owners and establishments allowing dirty water or sewage to spill onto roads.
Revenue Recovery and Pending Penalties
Official records reveal that violators have already settled 16,281 notices, bringing in Rs 99.15 lakh into the municipal treasury. Nevertheless, 11,634 challans remain unpaid, representing an outstanding penalty balance of Rs 1.32 crore. Civic teams are working on follow-up mechanisms to track non-compliant offenders and recover the pending dues.
Decriminalization Under the Jan Vishwas Framework
The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Act 2026 on May 15, bringing substantial modifications to the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. The statutory overhaul decriminalized numerous minor civic offenses, substituting criminal procedures with monetary civil fines to streamline administration.
Following this reform, the municipal corporation empowered its field personnel on May 19 to directly levy civil monetary penalties. Simultaneously, the quantum of fines was substantially enhanced to serve as a meaningful deterrent. The fine for urinating in public places, previously set at up to Rs 50, has jumped tenfold to Rs 500. Similarly, failing to leash a dog or allowing it to roam freely now attracts a penalty of Rs 1,000, raised from the earlier nominal charge of Rs 50.
Breakdown Across Municipal Departments and Zones
Among the nine functional wings of the municipal corporation, the Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS) spearheaded the cleanliness drive, generating 15,961 challans. Of these, 10,773 penalties have already been recovered. In parallel, the Malaria Department issued 5,599 challans for conditions promoting vector breeding, while the Public Health Department recorded 3,904 infractions.
At the zonal tier, the densely populated City-SP zone in Old Delhi recorded the highest regional tally at 6,066 challans. A municipal official noted that merely issuing fines does not instantly change civic habits, stressing that sustained penalties against repeat offenders are essential for long-term behavioral change. The official cited the Indore model, where civic discipline relies equally on encouraging responsible conduct and firmly penalizing repeated non-compliance.
Digital Ticketing Through the Mobile Application
To eliminate discrepancies and ensure transparency in record-keeping, the civic body has tied its enforcement operations to a digital ticketing platform integrated with the MCD 311 mobile application. Field staff record violations digitally, and citizens' reports are logged in real time. This automated infrastructure facilitates systematic tracking, structured follow-ups, and streamlined resolution of pending fines as authorities work to build a cleaner city.
