THE PREVENTION OF DESTRUCTION AND LOSS OF PROPERTY ACT, 1981

Karnataka Act No. 47 of 1981

29th September 1981

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Act 47 of 1981.- Consequent on the recent incidents of burning of Motor Vehicles, looting, damage of public and private property in Bangalore City and elsewhere and considering the fact that during the last few years agitational methods are being resorted to increasingly by students, labourers, antisocial elements to achieve these objects, it was considered expedient to provide by a separate legislation for deterrent punishment for such offences and to impose a collective fine on the inhabitants or other persons concerned or otherwise involved in their commission and to apportion among them the loss or damage sustained. The Prevention of Destruction and loss of property Ordinance, 1981 was hence promulgated on 16th June 1981. The Proposed enactment seeks to replace the Ordinance. (Published in the Karnataka Gazette

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S.1 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act, 1981.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the sixteenth day of June, 1981.

S.2 Punishment for committing mischief in respect of property

Whoever,-

(a) commits or attempts to commit, or instigates, incites or otherwise abets the commission of mischief within the meaning of section 425 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860) and causes loss or damage to any property; or
(b) causes loss or damage to any property in any area during the period when an assembly of five or more persons in such area is prohibited by or under any law for the time being in force, or when such assembly is deemed as an unlawful assembly under section 141 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860),

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees:

Provided that the court may for reasons to be recorded in writing, impose lesser punishment.

S.3 Special provision regarding bail

No person accused or convicted of an offence punishable under section 2 shall if in custody, be released on bail whether with or without sureties unless the prosecution has been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such release:

Provided that it shall not be necessary to give such an opportunity to oppose the application if the court, for reasons to be recorded in writing, is of opinion that it is not practicable to give such an opportunity.

S.4 Power of State Government to impose collective fine

(1) If, after enquiry in the prescribed manner, the State Government is satisfied that the inhabitants of an area are concerned in, or abetting or instigating, the commission of an offence punishable under section 2 or harbouring persons concerned in the commission of the said offence or failing to render all assistance in their power to discover or apprehend the offender or offenders or suppressing material evidence of the commission of such offence, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, impose a collective fine on such inhabitants and apportion such fine amongst the inhabitants in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the fine so apportioned shall not be recovered from any of the inhabitants until the petition, if any, filed by him under sub-section (3) is disposed of.

(2) The notification made under sub-section (1), shall be proclaimed in the area by beat of drum or in such other manner as the State Government may think best i