BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh cabinet, headed by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday cleared a law to penalize those who destroy government and private property during protests, demonstrations, strikes and riots.
MP will be the third state after Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to make such a law.
The MP Lok Evam Niji Sampatti ko Nuksan Nivarak Evam Nuksan Ki Wasuli Bill 2021 (Madhya Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Bill 2021) will be presented in the assembly during the upcoming winter session. The government will recover twice the value of the property damaged from the rioters. Home minister Narottam Mishra said, “If anyone destroys government or private property, both movable & immovable, during protest, strike or riot, then it will be recovered from the accused.”
Tribunal with powers of civil court to be appointed
Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, home minister Narottam Mishra said, “If anyone destroys government or private property, both movable and immovable, during a protest, strike or riot, then it will be recovered from the accused and paid to the property owner. If necessary, property of the accused will be seized and auctioned to recover the money.”
“The intention is to stop rioters who purposefully destroy property, and hurl stones at police and innocent citizens,” said Mishra.
The government does not object to peaceful demonstrations but does not approve of destruction of property, Mishra said.
A tribunal will be appointed with the powers of a civil court and its jurisdiction extending across the state, the home minister said. A retired judge will be appointed commissioner of the tribunal and police IGs and secretary-rank officers will be its members.
For loss of government property, the district collector will be the complainant and for private properties, the owner will apply with a complaint to the tribunal within 30 days of the incident. Every district will have a ‘claim commissioner’ who will be either the additional or deputy collector.
The tribunal will conduct an investigation against the accused. Appeals against the verdict can be filed only in the high court within 90 days. If the accused does not pay damages within 15 days of the tribunal verdict, then his property can be seized and auctioned. TNN
