Question

Commission of mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property is punishable with imprisonment up to how many years?
a. Five
b. Two
c. Three
d. None of these

Answer 1

Hint:
- The Supreme Court of India has recently expressed anger at the rioting and destruction of public property.
- The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 in India deals mainly with such issues.
- Various committees like Thomas Committee & Nariman Committee are related to this issue.

Complete solution:

Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984:

- It punishes anybody with a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine or both, "who commits mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property."

- It is possible to couple the provisions of this law with those under the Indian Penal Code.

- Under this Act, public property includes 'any house, installation or other property used in connection with the development, distribution or supply of water, light, electricity or energy; any oil installation; any wastewater treatment plant; any mine or plant; any means of public transport or telecommunications; or any building, installation or other property used in connection with it.'

- The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance in 2007 on the issue of the destruction of public and private assets and set up two committees to propose amendments to the law.

Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note:

Nariman Committee:
- It was led by Fali Nariman, a senior advocate. This committee's recommendations dealt with extracting damage for destruction.
- The court acknowledged them and ruled that the rioters should be held solely responsible and for the damage done, compensation must be collected.
- In addition, the Supreme Court ordered the High Courts to order suo motu intervention and to create a machinery to examine the damage caused and grant compensation anywhere the property is massively damaged due to protests.