Sweeping Punishment
Early on, when the Covid curfew was enforced, we saw cops make people violating stay-at-home restrictions do the murga—squat, loop arms behind knees, and firmly hold the ears. Then unlockdown followed, with the caveat that anyone caught without a mask on his face must pay a fine. Still, the scofflaws couldn’t overcome their contempt for masks. And so, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation came up with a deterring punishment. Offenders were handed brooms or mops and made to sweep or clean stretches of roads if they refused or were unable to shell out the fine of Rs 200. Is it legal? The BMC bylaws empower it to ask people to do community service for littering, urinating or spitting on roads.
Aladdin’s Rs 1.5 Cr...
