Q.

What was amended recently in Delhi Police Act, 1978

AMENDMENT TO THE ACT: Since its enactment in 1978, Delhi Police Act, 1978 remained largely unchanged for decades but on 19 June 2025, a landmark amendment was made: the sanction under Section 28(1) (and associated regulations)  which empowered Delhi Police to grant licences/NOCs for commercial establishments like hotels, restaurants, swimming pools, auditoriums, discotheques, video-game parlours and amusement parks was formally withdrawn by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi under Section 28(2)/Section.  As a result, these businesses no longer need to approach Delhi Police for NOC; instead the licensing responsibility has shifted to local civic authorities like Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) or the Delhi Cantonment Board.  A practical example: suppose someone wants to open a small restaurant or guest-house in Delhi. Under the earlier system, they had to obtain a NOC from Delhi Police under licences issued via Section 28 a process often time-consuming and bureaucratic. But now (post-June 2025), they can skip the police-licence step altogether and instead apply directly to the local municipal body simplifying and speeding up the approval process, reducing duplication, delays and red tape.