Law seeks to recover damage caused to property from rioters & mischief makers
Tuesday, 05 MARCH 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a major decision aimed at deterring riots and mischief in the society, the Uttarakhand government has decided to promulgate Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Ordinance-2024. Under the new law damage caused to public property during riots and unrest will be recovered from those who cause the damage. The rioters will have to pay for the expenses incurred on police and administration in the course of controlling the riots. Apart from this a penalty of Rs eight lakh can also be imposed on the rioters. The government has decided to constitute a claims tribunal which will assess the damage to the public and private property during a riot and initiate the process of the recovery from the perpetrators of the violence. A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the State cabinet chaired by the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday. After the approval of its draft by the governor the State government will promulgate the new ordinance.
As per the provisions of the ordinance an officer of the rank of the additional district magistrate will be the claims commissioner. The tribunal will have retired judges and prominent personalities as its members.
Informing about the cabinet decision, the chief secretary Radha Raturi said that in the case of damage to government and private property the circle officer will send his report to the district magistrate concerned. The DM will constitute a claims tribunal which will assess the loss through the court commissioner. After this the process of recovery from the person/ persons involved will start.
It is pertinent to mention here that during strikes, bandhs, disturbances or protests it is generally seen that some protesters damage government and private property. Following the footsteps of states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana the Uttarakhand government has also moved ahead on a plan to recover the damage from the mischief makers.
