After the recent Jat and Patidar protests in Haryana, Home Ministry is working on amending damage of public property act

Q: Now, the home ministry is expediting a bill to amend the Damage of Public Property Act, 1984, to ensure that agitators are made to pay monetary compensation for cruel acts during the agitation.

Amit Raj, Delhi-NCR

26th February 2016

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Another amendment was entry of a Section 4B that will address ''abetment of mischief''. According to this new clause where damage to public property is caused in consequences of demonstration, hartal or bandh called by any organization, office-bearers of such organization shall be deemed guilty of the commission of the offense of abutment of an offense punishable under this Act and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Mahek, Gurgaon

26th February 2016

Comment

So agitator, be careful before doing such act otherwise you have to pay a hefty amount or imprisonment.

Praveen Modi, Mumbai

26th February 2016

Hi folks,
It is also heard that the amended law by MHA will hold leaders of political parties and other organisations liable for damages. They may face a jail term too for properties damaged during a bandh or protest.

madhu, Faridabad

26th February 2016

Comment

It is true Madhu. And the Home ministry has suggested that fine shall be equivalent to the market values of the public property damaged. It has also suggested that cops videograph demonstration and deposit copies with the SDM.

Bhuvan, Delhi-NCR

26th February 2016

@Amit.....
The bill has remained stuck for the last 8 years, even as the latest agitation by Jats in Haryana is estimated to have caused a loss of nearly Rs 2000 crore, including losses of private entities.

Bhuvan, Delhi-NCR

26th February 2016

Comment

Right Bhuvan,
Amendments to the bill were planned after the Supreme Court in 2007 directed the government to penalise organisations for damages caused after a bandh or strike. Proposed amendments in the Act was mooted during the UPA regime but the bill did not see the light of day due to Parliament logjams.

Mahek, Gurgaon

26th February 2016

@Mahek,
And the amendments once cleared may be introduced in the ongoing Budget session, though it cannot be applied with retrospective effect. The amendments may also include damage to private properties not covered by insurance.

Bhuvan, Delhi-NCR

26th February 2016