The Delhi Government has issued 14.82 lakh challans amounting to over Rs 1,54,75,22,968 for various Covid norm violations in the city between April 2021, and April 2022 but managed to collect only Rs Rs 16,79,27,080 from the fine. The maximum number of fines was imposed for not wearing masks in public places. As many as 13.81 lakh challans for violating the mask mandate (93.31 per cent of the total) were issued by the district authorities between April 17, 2021, and April 6, 2022. Shahdara district recorded the highest number of such offences at 1,85,354, followed by the east district at 1,84,618 and the north district at 1,78,563 offences.
The least number of such offenders were in the Central district where 80,496 challans were issued for not wearing masks. In New Delhi, 90,293 challans and in the south district 91,572 challans were issued, the data showed. A total of 37,809 FIRs were registered for various Covid violations, with the New Delhi (37,803) district contributing the major chunk. There were five FIRs registered in the south district while a single FIR was lodged in the southwest district.
Three people were arrested for violating Covid protocols, according to the data. There were zero FIRs registered in the remaining eight districts.
Explaining the reason for the disparity between the fine imposed and collected, a senior official from the south district administration said many people generally do not pay fines on the spot because of insufficient money in their pocket. "Till last month, one had to pay a fine of Rs 2,000 for not wearing masks.
It was a big amount. Many times violators did not have a sufficient amount to pay the fine. So in that case, we used to issue challan orders and send them to the violator's residence or email them.
"This would contain all payment details. Violators would also be given options to either pay online or physically at the DM office," the official said.