New Delhi: Minor civil and regulatory violations in the capital are expected to attract harsher financial penalties instead of criminal prosecution, after Parliament passed the Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill, 2026, on Thursday.
Under the Delhi Police Act, two provisions will be set aside. Article 95, punishing guardians who allow a child under seven years of age to cause a public nuisance with a fine of up to $100, will be deleted.
Section 102(c), which makes it a crime to find any building or vehicle between sunset and sunrise without an explanation of illness, will also be removed – punishable by up to three months in prison.
Also Read: Delhi Police faces 14,000 vacancies; 44 percent job shortfall across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific: Government in Republika Srpska
But Delhi Police did not comment on the changes.
The legislation seeks to decriminalize a group of minor crimes, and replace prison sentences with financial penalties and administrative measures. Government officials in Delhi aware of the developments said the move aims to reduce the burden on the courts and shift enforcement towards compliance rather than punishment.
The bill also introduces stricter provisions on unauthorized occupation of public lands. Penalties are now linked to the value of the land, with fines that may reach a percentage of the annual value of the property for the duration of the encroachment.
Under the amendments to the Delhi Development Act, penalties for unauthorized construction and related violations have been significantly increased. While previous provisions allowed for severe imprisonment, they have now been commuted to simpler forms of punishment, with fines of up to $50 thousand, with additional daily fines for continued violations. The fine for obstructing or assaulting DDA officials has also been increased to $10,000 of $1000.
Also Read: LG asks officials to ensure use of world-class DDA infrared in Dwarka
“The focus is on deterrence by imposing higher financial penalties instead of imprisonment,” an official said, adding that the revised framework is expected to improve enforcement efficiency in dealing with building violations.
For Delhi Metro commuters, offenses like smoking or causing nuisance inside the building would not warrant criminal prosecution in the first place. Violators will face immediate penalties, in many cases beyond $2000.
Travelers who refuse to pay may still face legal action. Authorities said this would enable minor violations to be resolved more quickly without court intervention.
Instead of immediate criminal proceedings, arbitration officers will be empowered to impose sanctions, enabling a faster resolution and reducing reliance on the courts.
