Mumbai: Public health minister Dr Deepak Sawant on Friday said that the anti-spitting law will be tabled at the assembly session in March. He added that along with imposing a heavy fine, the offenders will also be made to do social service. Certain parts of the bill are being discussed with the law and judiciary department, he said.

“After seeing a sharp rise in infectious diseases across state, mainly TB, we've decided to bring in the #AntiSpittingLaw,” Sawant tweeted on Friday.

According to the draft bill, the first time a citizen is caught spitting, he or she will have to shell out Rs 1,000 as fine and take a day out to do social work at a public hospital or a government office. Second-time offenders will have to pay Rs 3,000 plus three-day community service, and repeat offenders Rs 5,000 plus five-day service, respectively. The amount collected in fines will be used only for healthcare services.

Doctors have been demanding an anti-spitting law on the ground that it would bring down transmission of all airborne diseases. The BMC had a bye-law on anti-spitting or littering in public places, but failed.

Facebook Twitter Linkedin EMail