Malappuram: A court in Malappuram district has fined a house owner and a tenant for creating conditions that allowed mosquitoes and rats to breed, and for dumping waste that posed a public nuisance and epidemic risk.

The Parappanangadi First Class Judicial Magistrate Court imposed a fine of ₹15,000 each in a case filed by V. Anoop, health inspector at the Neduva Community Health Centre.

Authorities said the violations were under Sections 21, 45 and 53 of the Public Health Act, 2023. Notices had earlier been issued by the Health Department directing the accused to prevent such violations, but the orders were ignored.

This is the first instance of a fine being imposed in the district since the Public Health Act came into effect.