UP govt proposes laws against property destruction

The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is mulling over new state laws to initiate action and recover compensation from those that damage public and private property during demonstrations, or when rioting in the state.

The state government is drafting two new laws — Defacement of Public Property and Damage to Public Property Act — wherein organizers and individuals will be made to pay for the damages they caused to the public property by their violent acts. The new laws envisages setting up of Claim Tribunals which will review the damages caused and slap recovery notices on those involved.

Those who failed to pay the fine will reportedly be issued recovery certificates and it will be realised by auctioning their properties. Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar has formed a five-member committee under the Principal Secretary Home, which will submit the final draft proposals for the new laws within 20 days.

Under the proposed laws, videography and photography will be made mandatory for all demonstrations, and rioting incidents, so that they can be used as evidence.

The new laws are being framed after eight years of the Supreme Court order in 2009, which directed the state s to frame such laws. "The new Acts would certainly give more powers to the police to seek compensation for damaging public properties and would certainly help the state to put an effective check on such incidents," said Principal Secretary Home Arvind Kumar.