In a brilliant move to curb and discourage violent riots and protests damaging property causing great loss to the public ex-chequer, the BJP government in Haryana led by Manohar Lal Khattar, has enacted a Bill in the state assembly to recover damages to property from the violent protestors and rioters responsible for the same.

The Haryana state assembly passed today The Haryana Recovery Of Damages To Property during Disturbance to Public Order Bill, 2021. The Bill was tabled by Haryana’s Home and Urban Local Bodies Minister Anil Vij in the state assembly.

The Bill provides for recovery of damages to properties, public or private, caused by persons indulging in violent protests and riots damaging property during disturbances to public order by an assembly, lawful or unlawful, including riots and violent disorder.

The Bill also provides for the constitution of Claims Tribunal to determine the liability, to assess the damages caused and to award requisite compensation for the damage to property in the State of Haryana.

According to the provisions of the Bill the District Collector shall have the power to issue an order of attachment of property or bank account of any person against whom the award has been passed for payment of compensation by the Claims Tribunal. Till such time the payment is made by the person on whom the liability is fixed by the Tribunal for payment of compensation, their personal property or bank accounts shall remain attached.

Notably, this bill enacted by the Haryana government follows the pioneering Act passed by the Yogi Adityanath headed Uttar Pradesh government called The Uttar Pradesh Recovery Of Damages to Public and Private Property Act, 2020. This Act was passed by the Yogi government in August 2020, which superseded an ordinance was promulgated in March 2020 for the same. This UP Act provided for fixing liabilities and recovery of damages from violent protestors and rioters causing damage to public or private property.

The UP government under Yogi Adityanath set a precedent to recover damages from people who perpetrated violent protests during the anti-CAA protests burning and damaging both public and private property which went a long way in enforcing law and order and maintaining peace in the state. Other state governments seeing the effectiveness of this law enacted by Yogi Adityanath’s initiative followed suit to fix liability on perpetrators of public violence.

News sourced from Organiser. Image sourced from internet.

 

 

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