With the aim to make Shimla “spick-and-span”, the High Court on Wednesday directed city Superintendent of Police A P Singh to strictly enforce a ban on spitting on streets, and take the guilty to task. It also advised the SP to post sufficient number of police personnel to keep a watch on the offenders.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation Act, a legislation governing basic functions and duties of the corporation, also has provisions prohibiting spitting on streets of the town. The law provides for a fine up to Rs 500 by the municipal magistrate.

In a suo motu action, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V K Gupta and Justice Rajeev Sharma took strong notice of the municipal corporation’s failure in enforcing the necessary provisions of the law, including a ban on spitting on streets.

The court directed Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner Devesh Kumar to take up the issue with the Shimla SP and draw a plan to enforce the ban.

The corporation has been given two weeks time to complete the exercise.

Earlier, the Municipal Corporation in its affidavit confirmed that there were sufficient provisions in the law to take the violators to task. It claimed that a large number of pan vendors in the Mall, main market in Shimla, are contributing to the spitting habit of people, despite a close vigil by the corporation staff.

The corporation informed the court that it has also displayed warning notices about the ban and fine that can be imposed.

... contd.