NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is set to align its enforcement approach with the Centre’s Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, which decriminalises over 1,000 minor offences and signals a shift towards trust-based governance. On Thursday, the bill was passed by both houses of Parliament.
On March 30, the NDMC said that implementing the Unit Area Method (UAM) introduced by the bill could reduce property tax by 30 to 50%, particularly helping the old and self-occupied properties. Introduced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in the LS, the bill proposed many changes to the NDMC Act, 1994.
Pointing out benefits of UAM, NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal pointed out the reduction of about 30 to 50% in property tax in the NDMC area and noted that the age factor will provide relief for older properties, and bifurcation will allow separate assessment of different portions of a property.
Additionally, the bill proposes a complete overhaul of the tax structure, specifying that property tax will now comprise two components: building tax and vacant land tax, replacing the earlier Section 61 of the New Delhi Municipal Act 1994.
The reforms aim to reduce the fear of criminal action for minor and first-time lapses, replacing immediate penalties with warnings and encouraging voluntary compliance among citizens and businesses. In the case of the NDMC area, the shift could mean fewer punitive actions for minor violations such as documentation gaps or procedural delays. Officials also said that the emphasis will now be giving violators an opportunity to rectify mistakes before penalties are imposed.
Under the framework, first-time and minor offences will invite warnings instead of prosecution, while penalties, where necessary, will be proportionate to the severity of the violation to ensure balanced enforcement. In addition to that, the bill also proposes faster and transparent resolution of disputes through adjudicating officers and appellate authorities, a move that is expected to ease burden on courts and speed up grievance redressal.
A dynamic penalty mechanism has also been proposed, under which fines will be periodically revised to remain effective and relevant over time.