Centre seeks suggestions on damage to public property act

The central government on Wednesday invited suggestions for amendments to the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984, an official statement said.

The move was made by the home ministry following suggestions by Justice K.T. Thomas-headed Supreme Court committee to make the provisions tougher.

The committee, having concluded that the present law was inadequate and ineffective to deal with the increasing number of instances of damage to public properties, made some recommendations for amendments to the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, 1984.

The home ministry decided to accept the recommendations of the committee.

An official statement said the proposed amendments seek to deter the prospective violators from vandalising and destroying public or private property during agitations and other forms of protests.

Both -- the present provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the proposed draft Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act -- are available on the home ministry website www.mha.nic.in

Suggestions or comments can also be sent to the home ministry, CS Division, 5th Floor, NDCC Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001, and by e-mail to dircs1-mha@mha.gov.in., the statement added.