Chapter XVII CHAPTER XVII

(1) For the purpose of securing the efficient scavenging and cleansing of all streets and premises, the Commissioner shall provide— (a) for the daily surface-cleansing of all streets and the removal of the sweepings therefrom, and (b) for the removal of the contents of all receptacles and depots and of the accumulations at all places provided or appointed by him under the provisions of this Act for the temporary deposit of rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter. (2) The Commissioner may, by public notice, issue directions as to the time at which, the manner in which, and the conditions subject to which, any matter referred to in sub-section (1) may be removed along a street or may be deposited or otherwise disposed of.

All matters deposited in public receptacles, depots and places provided or appointed under section 352 and all matters collected by municipal employees or contractors in pursuance of section 350 shall be the property of the Corporation.

(1) The Commissioner shall— (a) provide or appoint in proper and convenient situations public receptacles, depots or places for the temporary deposit of rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter and for the final disposal of rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter; (b) provide dustbins for the temporary deposit of rubbish; (c) provide vehicles or other suitable means for the removal of rubbish and offensive matter; and (d) provide covered vehicles or vessels for the removal of filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter. (2) Different receptacles, depots or places may be provided or appointed for the temporary deposit or final disposal of any of the matter specified in sub-section (1). (3) The Commissioner shall make adequate provision for preventing receptacles, depots, places, dustbins, vehicles and vessels referred to in sub-section (1) from becoming sources of nuisance.

It shall be the duty of the owners and occupiers of all premises— (a) to have the premises swept and cleaned; (b) to cause all filth, rubbish and other polluted and obnoxious matter to be collected from their respective premises and to be deposited at such times as the Commissioner, by public notices prescribes, in public receptacles, depots or places provided or appointed under section 352 for the temporary deposit or final disposal thereof; (c) to provide receptacles of the type and in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner for the collection therein of all filth, rubbish and other polluted and obnoxious matter from such premises and to keep such receptacles in good condition and repair.

It shall be the duty of the owner and occupier of every premises situate in any portion of Delhi in which there is not a latrine, or urinal connected by a drain with a municipal drain, to cause all filth and polluted and obnoxious matter accumulating upon such premises to be collected and removed to the nearest receptacle or depot provided for this purpose under section 352 at such times, in such vehicle or vessel by such route and with such precautions as the Commissioner may by public notice prescribe.

[Collection and removal of filth and polluted matter through municipal agency.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

The Commissioner may, if he thinks fit— (a) by written notice require the owner or occupier of any premises used for carrying on any manufacture, trade or business or used as a factory, workshop, trade premises or market or in any way so that rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter are accumulated in large quantities, to collect all such rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter accumulating thereon and to remove the same at such times and in such carts or receptacles and by such routes as may be specified in the notice to a depot or place provided or appointed under section 352, or (b) after giving such owner or occupier notice of his intention, cause all rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter accumulated in such premises to be removed, and charge the said owner or occupier for such removal such fee as may, with the sanction of the Standing Committee, be specified in the notice issued under clause (a).

(1) No owner or occupier of any premises shall keep or allow to be kept for more than twenty-four hours or otherwise than in a receptacle approved by the Commissioner, any rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter on such premises or any place belonging thereto or neglect to employ proper means to remove such rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter from, or to cleanse, such receptacle and to dispose of such rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter in the manner directed by the Commissioner, or fail to comply with any requisition of the Commissioner as to the construction, repair, pavement or cleansing of any latrine, or urinal on or belonging to the premises. (2) No owner or occupier shall allow the water of any sink, drain, latrine or urinal or any rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter to run down on or to, or be thrown or put upon, any street or into any drain in or along the side of any street except in such manner as shall prevent any avoidable nuisance from any such water, rubbish, filth or other polluted and obnoxious matter.

If any premises are not properly and regularly scavenged or cleansed or are in a filthy and unwholesome condition, the Commissioner may cause them to be scavenged and cleansed and recover the expenses from the owner or, as the case may be, occupier as an arrear of tax under this Act.

(1) The Commissioner shall provide and maintain in proper and convenient places a sufficient number of public latrines and urinals. (2) Such public latrines and urinals shall be so constructed as to provide separate compartments for each sex and not to be a nuisance, and shall be provided with all necessary conservancy establishments, and shall regularly be cleansed and kept in proper order.

[Construction of latrines and urinals.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

[Latrines and urinals, etc., in new buildings.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Every person employing workmen, labourers or other persons exceeding twenty in number shall provide and maintain for the separate use of persons of each sex so employed, latrines and urinals of such description and number as the Commissioner may by notice require and within such time as may be fixed in the notice and shall keep the same in clean and proper order.

The Commissioner may by notice require any owner or manager of a market, cart stand, cattle shed, theatre, railway station and other place of public resort within such time as may be specified in such notice to provide and maintain for the separate use of persons of each sex, latrines of such description and number and in such position as may be specified and to keep the same in clean and proper order.

[Other provisions as to private latrines.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

(1) Where it appears to the Commissioner that any block of buildings is in an unhealthy condition by reason of the manner in which the buildings are crowded together, or of the narrowness, closeness, or faulty arrangement of streets, or of the want of proper drainage and ventilation, or of the impracticability of cleansing the buildings or other similar cause, he shall cause the block to be inspected to by the Municipal Health Officer and the Municipal Engineer who shall make a report in writing to him regarding the sanitary condition of the block. (2) If upon receipt of such report the Commissioner considers that the sanitary condition of the block is likely to cause risk of disease to the inhabitants of the buildings or of the neighbourhood or otherwise to endanger the public health, he shall with the approval of the Standing Committee select the buildings which in his opinion should wholly or in part be removed in order to abate the unhealthy condition of the block and may thereupon by notice in writing require the owners of such buildings to remove them within such period as may be specified in the notice: Provided that before issuing the notice reasonable opportunity should be afforded to the owners to show cause why the building should not be removed: Provided further that the Commissioner shall make compensation to the owners for any buildings so removed which may have been erected under proper authority. (3) If a notice under sub-section (2) requiring any owner of a building to remove it is not complied with, then, after the expiration of the time specified in the notice the Commissioner may himself remove the building required to be removed by the notice and recover from the owner of the building the expenses of such removal as an arrear of tax under this Act.

(1) Where the Commissioner upon information in his possession is satisfied that any building is in any respect unfit for human habitation, he may, unless in his opinion the building is not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered fit, serve upon the owner of the building a notice requiring him within such time not being less than thirty days as may be specified in the notice to execute the works of improvement specified therein and stating that in his opinion those works will render the building fit for human habitation. (2) In addition to serving a notice under this section on the owner the Commissioner may serve a copy of the notice on any other person having an interest in the building whether as a lessee, mortgagee or otherwise. (3) In determining whether a building can be rendered fit for human habitation at a reasonable expense regard shall be had to the estimated cost of the work necessary to render it so fit and the value which it is estimated that the building will have when the works are completed.

If a notice under section 366 requiring the owner of the building to execute works of improvement is not complied with, then, after the expiration of the time specified in the notice the Commissioner may himself do the works required to be done by the notice and recover the expenses incurred in connection therewith as an arrear of tax under this Act.

(1) Where the Commissioner upon any information in his possession is satisfied that any building is unfit for human habitation and is not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit he shall serve upon the owner of the building, and upon any other person having an interest in the building, whether as a lessee, mortgagee or otherwise a notice to show cause within such time as may be specified in the notice as to why an order of demolition of the building should not be made.\n(2) If any of the person upon whom a notice has been served under sub-section (1), appears in pursuance thereof before the Commissioner and gives an undertaking to him that such person shall, within a period specified by the Commissioner, execute such works of improvement in relation to the building as will, in the opinion of the Commissioner, render the building fit for human habitation or an undertaking that the building shall not be used for human habitation until the Commissioner on being satisfied that it has been rendered fit for that purpose, cancels the undertaking, the Commissioner shall not make an order of demolition of the building.\n(3) If no such undertaking as is mentioned in sub-section (2) is given, or if in a case where any such undertaking has been given, any work of improvement to which the undertaking relates is not carried out within the specified period, or the building is at any time used in contravention of the terms of the undertaking, the Commissioner shall forthwith make an order of demolition of the building requiring that the building shall be vacated within a period to be specified in the order not being less than thirty days from the date of the order, and that it shall be demolished within six weeks after the expiration of that period.\n(4) Where an order of demolition of a building under this section has been made, the owner of the building or any other person having an interest therein, shall demolish that building within the time specified in that behalf by the order, and if the building is not demolished within that time, the Commissioner shall demolish the building and sell the materials thereof.\n(5) Any expenses incurred by the Commissioner under sub-section (4) if not satisfied out of the proceeds of the sale of materials of the building shall be recovered from the owner of the building or any other person having an interest therein as an arrear of tax under this Act.\n(6) In determining for the purposes of section 366 and this section whether a building is unfit for human habitation, regard shall be had to its condition in respect of the following matters, that is to say,—\n(a) repair;\n(b) stability;\n(c) freedom from damp;\n(d) natural light and air;\n(e) water supply;\n(f) drainage and sanitary conveniences;\n(g) facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of rubbish, filth and other polluted matter;\nand the building shall be deemed to be unfit as aforesaid if it is so far defective in one or more of the said matters that it is not reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition.\n(7) For the purposes of section 366, section 367 and this section, “work of improvement” in relation to a building includes any one or more of the following works, namely:—\n(a) necessary repairs;\n(b) structural alterations;\n(c) provision of light points and water taps;\n(d) construction of drains, open or covered;\n(e) provision of latrines and urinals;\n(f) provision of additional or improved fixtures and fittings;\n(g) opening up or paving of courtyard;\n(h) removal of rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter;\n(i) any other work including the demolition of any building or any part thereof which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, is necessary for executing any of the works specified above.\n(8) The provisions of section 365, section 366, section 367 and this section shall not apply in relation to any building in any area which has been declared to be a slum area under the Slum Area (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956 (96 of 1956).

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Any person being in charge of, or in attendance, whether as a medical practitioner or otherwise, upon any person whom he knows or has reason to believe to be suffering from a dangerous disease, or being the owner, lessee, or occupier of any building in which he knows that any such person is so suffering shall forthwith give information respecting the existence of such disease to the Municipal Health Officer.

(1) When any person suffering from any dangerous disease is found to be—\n(a) without proper lodging or accommodation, or\n(b) living in a room or house which the neither owns or pays rent for nor occupies as the guest or relative of any person who owns, or pays rent for it, or\n(c) living in a sarai, hotel, boarding house or other public hotel, or\n(d) lodged in premises occupied by members of two or more families,\nthe Commissioner or any person authorised by him in this behalf, may on the advice of any medical officer of the rank not inferior to that of an assistant surgeon remove the patient to any hospital or place at which persons suffering from such disease are received for medical treatment and may do anything necessary for such removal.\n(2) The Corporation shall if required by the Government erect an infectious diseases hospital of such type and dimension as that Government may direct.

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Omitted by s. 2 and Sch., ibid. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

(1) The Commissioner shall—\n(a) provide proper places with necessary attendants and apparatus for the disinfection of conveyances, clothing, bedding and other articles which have been exposed to infection;\n(b) cause conveyances, clothing and other articles brought for disinfection to be disinfected either free of charge or on payment of such charges as he may fix.\n(2) The Commissioner may notify places at which articles of clothing, bedding and conveyances or other articles which have been exposed to infection shall be washed and if he does so, no person shall wash any such thing at any place not so notified without having previously disinfected such thing.\n(3) The Commissioner may direct the destruction of any clothing, bedding or other article likely to retain infection and may give such compensation as he thinks fit for any article so destroyed.

(1) In the event of Delhi or any part thereof being visited or threatened by an outbreak of any dangerous disease among the inhabitants thereof or of any epidemic disease among any animals therein, the Commissioner, if he thinks that the other provisions of this Act and the provisions of any other law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may, with the previous sanction of the Corporation,—\n(a) take such special measures, and\n(b) by public notice, give such directions to be observed by the public or by any class or section of the public,\nas he thinks necessary to prevent the outbreak or spread of the disease:\nProvided that where in the opinion of the Commissioner immediate measures are necessary, he may take action without such sanction as aforesaid and if he does so, shall forthwith report such action to the Corporation.\n(2) No person shall commit a breach of any direction given under sub-section (1) and if he does so he shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Omitted by s. 2 and Sch., ibid. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no owner, driver or person in charge of a public conveyance shall be bound to convey or to allow to be conveyed in such conveyance in or in the vicinity of Delhi any person suffering from a dangerous disease or the corpse of any person who has died from such disease unless and until such person pays or tenders a sum sufficient to cover any loss and expense which would ordinarily be incurred in disinfecting the conveyance.

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

No person shall, without previous disinfection of the same, give, lend, sell, transmit or otherwise dispose of to another person any article or thing which he knows or has reason to believe has been exposed to contamination by any dangerous disease and is likely to be used in or taken into Delhi or any part thereof.

Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).

When Delhi or any part thereof is visited or threatened by an outbreak of any dangerous disease the Commissioner may, by public notice, restrict in such manner or prohibit for such period as may be specified in the notice, the sale or preparation of any article of food or drink for human consumption specified in the notice or the sale of any flesh of any description of animal so specified.

(1) If the Commissioner is of opinion that the water in any well, tank or other place, is likely, if used for drinking, to endanger, or cause the spread of, any disease, he may— (a) by public notice, prohibit the removal or use of such water for drinking; or (b) by notice in writing require the owner or person having control of such well, tank or place to take such steps as may be directed by the notice to prevent the public from having access to or using such water; or (c) take such other steps as he may consider expedient to prevent the outbreak or spread of any such disease. (2) In the event of Delhi or any part thereof being visited or threatened by an outbreak of a dangerous disease the Municipal Health Officer or any person authorised by him in this behalf may, without notice and at any time, inspect and disinfect any well, tank or other place from which water is, or is likely to be, taken for the purposes of drinking and may further take such steps as he may think fit to ensure the purity of the water or to prevent the use of the same for drinking purposes.

No person shall,—

1. (a) knowing that he is suffering from a dangerous disease, expose other persons to the risk of infection by his presence or conduct in any public street or public place;
2. (b) having the care of a person whom he knows to be suffering from a dangerous disease, cause or permit that person to expose other persons to the risk of infection by his presence or conduct in any such street or place as aforesaid;
3. (c) place or cause to be placed in a dustbin or other receptacle for the deposit of rubbish, any matter which he knows to have been exposed to infection from a dangerous disease and which has not been disinfected properly;
4. (d) throw or cause to be thrown into any latrine or urinal any matter which he knows to have been exposed to infection from a dangerous disease and which has not been disinfected properly.

Where any person has died from any dangerous disease the Commissioner may, by notice in writing— (a) require any person having charge of the corpse to convey the same to a mortuary thereafter to be disposed of in accordance with law, or (b) prohibit the removal of corpses from the place where death occurred except for the purpose of being burnt, buried or for being conveyed to a mortuary.

1. (1) No person being a sweeper employed by 1[2[the Corporation ]] shall in the absence of any contract authorising him so to do and without reasonable cause, resign his employment or absent himself from his duty without having given one month's notice to the Commissioner or shall neglect or without reasonable cause refuse to perform his duties.
2. (2) 3[4[The Corporation ]] may by resolution direct that on or from such date as may be specified in the resolution, the provisions of this section shall apply in the case of any specified class of persons employed by 1[2[the Corporation]] whose functions are intimately concerned with public health or safety.

388. [Conditions of service of sweepers employed for doing house scavenging.] Omitted by the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022 (10 of 2022), s. 9 (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).

The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require the owner or person in charge of any burning or burial ground to supply such information as may be specified in the notice concerning the condition, management, or position of such ground.

(1) No place which has not been used as a burning or burial ground before the commencement of this Act shall be so used without the permission in writing of the Commissioner. (2) Such permission may be granted subject to any conditions which the Commissioner may think fit to impose for the purpose of preventing any annoyance to, or danger to the health of, any persons residing in the neighbourhood.

(1) Where the Commissioner, after making or causing to be made local enquiry is of opinion that any burning or burial ground has become offensive to, or dangerous to the health of, persons residing in the neighbourhood, he may, with the previous sanction of the Standing Committee, by notice in writing, require the owner or person in charge of such ground to close the same from such date as may be specified in the notice. (2) No corpse shall be burnt or buried at the burning or burial ground in respect of which a notice has been issued under this section.

The Commissioner may by public notice prescribe routes by which alone corpses may be removed to burning or burial ground.

(1) Whenever any animal in charge of any person dies, the person in charge thereof shall within twenty-four hours either— (a) convey the carcass to a place provided or appointed under section 352 for the final disposal of the carcasses of dead animals, or (b) give notice of the death to the Commissioner whereupon he shall cause the carcass to be disposed of. (2) In respect of the disposal of the carcass of a dead animal under clause (b) of sub-section (1) the Commissioner may charge such fee as he may by public notice prescribe.