Bombay HC Directs Maharashtra Government and BMC to Impose Hefty Fines to Stop Spitting in Public

On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court came down heavily on BMC for not imposing heavy fines on people spitting in public regardless of such a serious situation persisting because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Mumbai Resident, Armin Wandrewala sought directions to be issued to the State, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Commissioner of Police for the execution of laws against spitting in public. The Bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni made the following stern remark. 

“Bombay Police Act permits you to take a fine of Rs. 1200, then why are you charging only Rs, 200? What is the value of Rs. 200 nowadays”? Additionally, Justice GS Kulkarni stressed, “actually it is loss of revenue. It shows that you are not collecting. The habit of spitting has to come to an end”.

Armin Wandrewala’s plea stated that the laws and regulations made by the State are not being enforced. He further submitted that spitting in public can be a threat in times of the pandemic, like now. 

“The tragedy is, that even those wearing masks, lower their masks, to spit on the roads and in public places. This totally negates the very purpose of wearing a mask", the plea adds. 

Hence, the Court directed the authorities to opt for ways to make people aware of the consequences of spitting in public by placing them on signboards etc and the steps should be performed within a week.

Suggestions were put forth by Armin Wandrewala like sensitising the policemen and functionaries to stop people against the unsanitary habit of spitting.

The Bombay HC has directed the authorities to inform the Court about the current steps and future measures that will be taken to act on the petitioner's complaint. The next hearing in this matter is slated for April 21. 2021.