As if policy paralysis in education sector is not enough, the schools in Arunachal are consistently suffering arson and vandalization causing loss of important property inside campuses. These acts are harming an already beleaguered education sector and the state needs to take a stringent measure against such vandals and destruction of public property.

 

Last year, the Supreme Court directed the government to make protesters pay for damaging public property, failing which it will come out with guidelines for sternly dealing with those holding the country to ransom in the name of stir for one cause or the other.

 

‘The protesters must face the consequences for their actions. They must realise that they will be held accountable for damaging public property,’ the apex court had observed.

 

In recent times, destruction of public property has become a popular medium for airing grievances. A bandh, agitation or political demonstration seems incomplete without acts of vandalism and the resulting damage caused to public property.

 

Modes of transportation— both public and private have become a favoured target. The losses each year run into hundreds of crores and yet the government seems helpless.

 

Perpetrators seemingly are growing bold in the absence of action and consequences. Protesters feel such tactics and the subsequent pandemonium will attract the attention of the media and the government, and thereby their grievances will get redressed. It is also used as a pressure tactic. Destruction of public property is now taken to denote the impact and success of any agitation or political demonstration. Lack of respect for public property is another reason for such acts of arson.

 

 

These acts of arson attract the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984, a law enacted to curtail the growing menace of causing damage to public property. But the act is seldom enforced. Under Section 4 of the Act, punishment for causing damage to public property by fire can be imprisonment up to a maximum of 10 years. Due to non-enforcement, the statute has failed to achieve its objective.

Time has come that one who wilfully causes damage to public property should be held liable to compensate for the damage. If individuals are difficult to trace then the political party, group or organisation should be made vicariously liable to pay. Such an action would certainly send out a strong message.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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