In the state, there are frequent incidents of fines being levied along with beating from police. This is like the saying, when buying masala dosha, vada is free. The incident in which a woman was attacked and her fish basket thrown away by municipal employees while she was on her way to a fish market in Attingal has sparked widespread protests. People from the lower strata of society sit on the roadside selling fish and vegetables for a living. In a sense, it is difficult to take legal action against them. They often run their daily lives with money bought at interest and so on. They are just ordinary people who have no great hold, kinship or political influence. Their only resistance is to speak up loudly. Local bodies can take legal action against them if they sell fish in areas where fish sales are not allowed. They may be fined. But under which section are they physically abused? In which law book is it said that such people should be attacked and injured? Not even municipal employees, not even the police, have the right to do so. Only the judiciary has the right to punish a citizen. It is decided after hearing the arguments of both the parties. During the reign of the king, he would be punished brutally. The same behaviour is shown to the people by some policemen and municipal employees. Fining someone without rhyme or reason has now become the norm. Those who have lost their lives due to the spread of Covid are being squeezed for money in this way.
In old days the fine was a small amount. As part of reducing road accidents, the central government has increased the fines beyond the reach of the common man. This was done in accordance with the practices of foreign countries. The fine has been imposed for providing better traffic facilities there. And here it is conveniently forgotten though. At present, the police are enforcing the practice of fining various departments. The fine revenue during the Covid period was Rs 125 crore. The current situation is that you have to take a loan to pay the fine. It was also reported that a man who had been imposed a fine of more than Rs 30,000 had absconded without any means to stop pay it. Disaster management law is good. But don’t use it in place and out of place to make people’s lives doubly miserable.