Delhi passes bill on preventing harassment of tourists

NEW DELHI - The Delhi assembly Wednesday passed a bill to curb the menace of touts and illegal brokers who harass tourists and other outstation visitors to Delhi.

The Delhi Prevention of Touting and Malpractices against Tourists Bill is intended to prevent enticing, misguiding or coercing for shopping, accommodation, transportation, sight-seeing or pestering for any particular premises. The Delhi Police has been entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing the bill after it becomes an act.

Offenders will be imprisoned for a term which may extend to one year or will be fined Rs.10,000, or both. Repeat offences would lead to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or fine which may extend to Rs.2,000, or both.

In case the offender is seen to repeat the offence habitually, the commissioner of police or any police officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police, shall have the power to declare that person out of bounds from Delhi or any part thereof, for a period which shall not be less than six months but may extend to one year.

–Indo Asian News Service