Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 9: Escaping imprisonment under the proposed Delhi Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 may come at a steep price, with offenders facing civil penalties ranging from Rs 20 lakh to as high as Rs 3 crore for serious violations.
The draft Bill, which is likely to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Friday, aims to decriminalise minor offences across several Delhi government laws by replacing jail terms with a structured civil penalty system. The legislation could not be introduced during the ongoing Assembly session over the past two days due to early adjournments.
Under the proposed amendments, laws governing professional colleges and diploma-level technical institutions will remove imprisonment provisions and impose hefty civil penalties of up to Rs 3 crore for violations such as charging capitation fees.
The Delhi Industrial Development, Operation and Maintenance Act, 2010, will also see significant changes. Unauthorised construction or alteration in industrial estates will attract a civil penalty of up to Rs 25,000, along with an additional Rs 1,000 per day for continuing violations. Misuse of industrial land may draw a fine of up to Rs 10,000 plus Rs 500 per day, while non-compliance with key provisions under amended Section 40 may invite penalties ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. Other contraventions, which earlier attracted nominal fines, will now be penalised up to Rs 5,000.
Amendments to the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, propose fines ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 for major violations, with higher penalties for continuing defaults.
Under the Delhi Electricity Reform Act, 2000, civil penalties will go up to Rs 1 lakh, along with Rs 6,000 per day for ongoing violations. Serious breaches could attract fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
The Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing Act, 1998, will also be amended to impose civil penalties of up to Rs 50,000, along with additional per-day charges for continued violations.
The Delhi government maintains that the Bill is intended to reduce criminalisation of minor offences, improve ease of doing business, and ensure compliance through deterrent financial penalties rather than imprisonment.