Pune Court Fines Milk Vendors for Storing Buffalo Dung on Roads, Upholds Public Health Norms
Pune, 18th August 2025: The Pune Municipal Court has imposed a fine of Rs 550 each on three milk vendors from Hadapsar for storing buffalo dung on the road, creating unsanitary conditions. The verdict underscores the importance of public health, echoing the Bombay High Court’s emphasis while upholding the ban on pigeon houses in Mumbai.
First Class Judicial Magistrate N. S. Sayyed delivered the order, finding the three vendors from Shinde Vasti in Hadapsar guilty under Section 252 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They were fined under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. The court stated that failure to pay the fine would result in simple imprisonment until the court convenes. All three vendors promptly deposited the fine.
The case arose following a municipal inspection of buffalo sheds in the Shinde settlement, which revealed cow dung being stored on public roads. A case was subsequently registered against the three milk sellers.
During the proceedings, the accused admitted their mistake, explaining, “We are poor and responsible for our families. Imprisonment would create hardships for our dependents.”
Taking this into account, the court imposed fines rather than custodial sentences.
