Mosquito Breeding - High Court Seeks Update From Delhi Govt On Proposal To Increase Fine From Rs 5K to 50K

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked Delhi Government to inform it within four weeks about the status of its proposal to increase the fine amount in cases of mosquito breeding. The government plans to increase the on-the-spot fines to Rs. 50,000 for the existing Rs 5,000.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the authorities to forward a list of officers who can be designated as nodal officers for implementation of the common protocol which was framed earlier on court orders to deal with the menace of mosquito infestation and spreading of vector borne diseases.

The court last year taken suo moto cognizance of the issue of large scale mosquito breeding in the city, resulting in spread of vector borne diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya and Dengue every year.

During the course of hearing today, the counsel appearing for the Delhi Government apprised the court that the proposal of amending and increasing the amount of fine is pending consideration and that the process will take some time.

"It is brought to the notice of the court that the GNCTD was directed to examine the proposal of imposition of on the spot fines at Rs. 50,000 and the counsel appearing for GNCTD has stated that the matter is under consideration. Accordingly, GNCTD is granted four weeks time to inform about the outcome of the same," said the court, while listing the matter for hearing on December 9.

Amicus curiae, Advocate Rajat Aneja informed the court that despite existence of a common protocol that had to be adopted by the municipal corporation and other authorities, the number of dengue cases were still on the rise.

On May 25, the court had asked the Delhi Government to seriously examine the proposal of imposition of fines observing that the quantum of fine should not be limited to Rs. 5,000 but should be fixed at Rs. 50,000.

The bench was of the view that the increase of the fine amount should be examined if a deterrence has to be created in the minds of the people to not allow mosquito breeding in their premises.

It had also expressed displeasure on the failure of municipal corporations to control the surge of vector borne diseases like Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya in the national capital, observing that its earlier directions to control the same had fallen on deaf ears.

Case Title: Court in its own motion v. State