Amritsar, September 7 (K.L. Jit Walia): Police Commissioner Amritsar, IPS Harmanbir Singh Gill, has issued eight separate orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, for areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Amritsar Police Commissionerate.
The orders have been issued to maintain law and order, strengthen public safety, prevent crime and ensure smooth traffic and civic management in the city.
1. Regulations for Restaurants, Eating Places and Clubs
Restaurants, eating establishments and clubs in the Amritsar Police Commissionerate area will not be allowed to accept food or beverage orders after 11:30 pm. No new customer will be permitted to enter such establishments after this time.
All restaurants, clubs and licensed eating establishments must close completely by 12 midnight. Premises attached to liquor vends must also close according to the prescribed licensing conditions.
Sound systems, DJs, live orchestras and singers must stop or reduce sound by 10 pm. After 10 pm, sound generated inside an establishment should not be audible outside its premises. Noise levels must also remain within prescribed environmental standards.
Vehicles equipped with music systems must ensure that sound from the music system is not audible outside the vehicle.
2. Ban on Unauthorized Encroachments on Roads and Footpaths
The Police Commissionerate has prohibited unauthorized encroachments on roads, markets and footpaths.
The restrictions include unauthorized signboards, roadside carts and stalls, kiosks, shopkeepers extending their goods onto footpaths and unauthorized vehicle parking.
The order aims to prevent traffic congestion, ensure pedestrian safety and curb petty crimes. Shopkeepers will not be allowed to place or sell goods beyond their authorized shop limits on roads or footpaths.
3. Regulations Regarding Storage, Sale and Purchase of Firecrackers
The sale of firecrackers will only be permitted from valid licensed premises.
Firecrackers will not be allowed in silence zones, including areas near hospitals and educational institutions, or within the restricted areas around oil terminals.
Imported or foreign-origin firecrackers, including illegally imported products, are prohibited. Only authorized low-emission and green firecrackers may be sold and used as permitted under applicable regulations.
The use of series or chain firecrackers has also been prohibited.
During Diwali, firecrackers may be used only from 8 pm to 10 pm. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the permitted time is from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am. On Gurpurab, fireworks will be permitted from 4 am to 5 am and from 9 pm to 10 pm.
Storage of firecrackers at places other than valid licensed premises is prohibited.
4. Directions for Mobile Phone and SIM Card Sellers
Mobile phone and SIM card sellers have been directed not to sell mobile phones or SIM cards without obtaining proper identification documents and photographs of buyers.
Sellers must maintain proper records of customers and issue purchase certificates bearing the firm’s stamp and signature.
In cases where payment is made digitally by another person through UPI, card or online payment, the identification details of the person making the payment must also be maintained.
The directions aim to prevent cybercrime, fake SIM rackets and misuse of mobile phones.
5. Pollution and Noise Standards for Firecrackers
Manufacturers and dealers of firecrackers have been directed to ensure that noise-level labels in decibels are printed on firecracker packets.
The order has been issued to reduce noise pollution, protect public health and prevent disturbances and accidents during weddings, festivals and other celebrations.
6. Ban on Carrying Weapons in Vehicles
The Police Commissioner has prohibited carrying weapons or potentially lethal objects in vehicles within the Amritsar Police Commissionerate jurisdiction.
The prohibition includes items such as baseball bats, sharp-edged weapons, pointed weapons and other potentially deadly weapons.
The order has been issued to maintain peace, public safety and law and order.
7. Verification Required for Sale and Stitching of Police, Military and Paramilitary Uniforms
Shopkeepers and tailors selling or stitching uniforms of the police, armed forces and paramilitary forces must verify the identity of the purchaser.
They must maintain records including the purchaser’s photograph, self-attested identity proof, rank, name, address, phone number and place of posting.
The records must be maintained properly and made available to police whenever required. The order aims to prevent the misuse of official uniforms by anti-social or criminal elements.
8. CCTV and Record-Keeping Mandatory at Parking Places
Parking operators at locations such as railway stations, bus stands, religious places, hospitals, crowded markets and other public parking facilities have been directed not to operate parking facilities without CCTV cameras.
The CCTV system must clearly capture vehicle number plates and the faces of persons entering or leaving the parking area.
Parking operators have also been directed to maintain detailed records of vehicles and vehicle owners. For vehicles parked for extended periods, relevant registration and driving licence documents must also be recorded.
Employees working at parking facilities must undergo police verification.
Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill stated through these orders that the measures are aimed at strengthening public safety, maintaining law and order, preventing crime and ensuring better civic discipline across Amritsar.
KL JIT WALIA
