Table of Contents
Introduction
A lot of laws have been passed over the last few years by the Indian government. people in India getting fined for smoking, littering, or even urinating in public. For that, laws getting applied strongly around India.
There are things that you cannot do Publicly in India.
There are actions that can get us punished or fined for doing in public:
- Smoking in public
- Internet/software piracy
- Littering the streets
- Playing loud music
- Over speeding
- Disrupting the National Anthem
- Failed Suicide
Smoking in public
“Smoking is injurious to health” Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis etc. still, people in India, are addicted to this. In India, from October 2, 2008, smoking in public places was prohibited nationwide.
Some of the places where smoking is restricted are as follows:
Auditoriums,
Cinemas,
Hospitals,
Public transport (aircraft, buses, trains, metros, monorails, taxis) and their related facilities (airports, bus stands/stations, railway stations),
Restaurants,
Hotels,
Bars,
Pubs,
Amusement centers,
Offices (government and private),
Libraries,
Courts,
Post offices,
Markets,
Shopping malls,
Canteens,
Refreshment rooms,
Banquet halls,
Discotheques,
Coffee houses,
Educational institutions and parks.
Smoking is allowed on roads, and inside one’s home or vehicle.
Internet/software piracy
Indian copyright law state that Downloading and uploading movies, music and other such copyright content from and on the internet is absolutely against the law. Under the Indian Copyright Act, a software pirate can be tried under both civil and criminal law. And India is one of the largest hubs for online piracy.
Littering the streets
In many cities in India, Littering the streets is a publishable crime including New Delhi,(the national capital). So Urinating and spitting in public in some Indian cities are also a publishable crime. All these crimes may get the offenders punished in jail or paid a heavy amount.
Playing loud music
Article 21 of the Constitution of India states that every citizen has the right to a decent environment, the right to live peacefully, the right to sleep at night, and a right to have leisure, which is all necessary ingredients for the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Also, as per the law, No one can claim a right to create noise even on his own premises that would travel beyond his precincts and cause a nuisance to neighbors or others.
In 2005, the Supreme Court had in an order stated that no loudspeakers could be permitted after 10 pm. The apex court had defined the intervening period between 10 pm to 6 am as ‘night’. It had imposed a ban on playing loud music or making any type of noise during this period.
Over speeding
According to the traffic laws in India, overspeeding is an offense. ‘Rules of the Road Regulation’, were brought into effect in July, 1989. According to these, exceeding the prescribed speed limits, overtaking perilously, and overtaking from the wrong side are offences that can get one fined
Disrupting the National Anthem
However existing laws don’t clearly require you to stand up or sing along to the national anthem, this touchy topic has become a contentious issue in recent years. Although, while you could get away with not participating, actively trying to disrupt decorum in a public arena where the national anthem is being played amounts to an ‘insult to the national honour’, and is punishable with a maximum term of up to three years in jail
Failed suicide
The act of suicide itself isn’t illegal in India, attempting to commit suicide and failing means that under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, you could face a detention term of up to a year. Although the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 has effectively nullified this law by adding that anyone attempting suicide will be presumed to be suffering from mental illness, you could still end up in jail if it is proved that you are mentally fit.