Mobile courts to check litterbugs in the Capital

Mobile courts to check litterbugs in the Capital
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, FEB 23: As part of its drive for cleaning up the Capital, Delhi Government will set up at least 148 mobile courts all across the city to nab and penalise "guilty citizens" indulging in littering and spoiling the sanitation system, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced here on Wednesday.

"To start with the magistrates will be deployed on duty from March 15 for three months in all 134 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas and 14 special New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) areas," Dikshit told reporters.

"The magistrates operating as presiding officers of mobile courts will ensure compliance of the provision of the MCD and NDMC acts and try the cases on the spot," she said, adding the penalty could range from a fine of Rs 50 to "one week jail term".

Chief secretary Omesh Saigal, who was also present, said, "While initially the magistrates will be drawn from Delhi Government, in a period beyond three months the public-spirited individuals, specially the retired government employees and ex-defence personnel, will be appointed as `special executive magistrates' under section 21 of CrPC". "The entire gameplan is based on our concept of encouraging government-citizens participation," Dikshit said.

The offence of creating nuisance in city's sanitation system would include among other things throwing garbages either in street or even in front of shops and business units.