SC: parties should pay for damage to public property during bandhs

The Bench,also comprising Justice A K Ganguly,noted the suggestions as very important,which require serious deliberations. The court asked all the states and UTs to file their responses by February 20.

Role of Union of India is paramount to make any statute forceful, noted the Bench,as Nariman informed it that despite the number of bandhs or hartals and the damage to properties rising,there had been negligible convictions.

Two proposals one for strengthening the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act,1984,and the other making leaders accountable for acts of vandalism during agitation are the focal points of the reports of the two committees,a senior advocate associated with the committee said.

Following the Gurjjar agitation in 2007,the apex court had set up the two committees to look into the issue and suggest if any criminal action could be taken against destroyers.