New Delhi, April 4 -- Minor civic and regulatory violations in the Capital are set to attract steeper monetary penalties instead of criminal prosecution, following Parliament's passage of the Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill, 2026, on Thursday. The legislation seeks to decriminalise a range of minor offences, replacing imprisonment provisions with financial penalties and administrative action. Delhi government officials aware of the development said the move aims to reduce the burden on courts and shift enforcement towards compliance rather than punishment. Under amendments to the Delhi Development Act, penalties for unauthorised construction and related violations have been significantly increased. While earlier provisions allowed for rigorous imprisonment, these have now been diluted to simpler forms of punishment, with fines extending up to Rs.50,000, along with additional daily penalties for continuing violations. The fine for obstructing or assaulting DDA officials has also been increased to Rs.10,000 from Rs.1,000. "The focus is on deterrence through higher financial penalties rather than incarceration," an official said, adding that the revised framework is expected to improve enforcement efficiency in dealing with building violations. For Delhi Metro commuters, offences such as smoking or creating nuisance within premises will no longer invite criminal prosecution at first instance. Offenders will face on-the-spot penalties, in many cases exceeding Rs.2,000. Commuters refusing to pay may still face legal proceedings. Authorities said this would enable quicker resolution of minor infractions without court intervention. Under the Delhi Police Act, two provisions will be done away with. Delhi police, however, did not comment on the changes....