Question

PDPP Act can be extended, except which state …………………………….
A) Bihar
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Jammu and Kashmir
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Damage to public property during violent protest is common across the country. Local public transport buses and other public property were the first victims of the protest. The Indian government is currently proposing to amend the ‘public of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 ‘(PDPP) to introduce appropriate preventive measures to prevent damage to public property.

Complete answer:
The court-appointed two separate commissions, one chaired by former chief judge KT Thomas and the other chaired by Mr. Fali S. Nariman. The judicial commission KT Thomas made the following recommendations. The PDPP Act needs to be amended to include a rebuttable presumption that the defendant was guilty of the crime after prosecutors demonstrated that public property was damaged by indirect actions cited by the respective organization. The PDPP Act should state that an organization leader demanding direct action must be found guilty of inciting crime. Allow police officers to arrange video footage of activities that damage public property. It recommended reversing the burden of proof on the demonstrators. PDPP Act can be extended to all of India except Jammu and Kashmir. Omitted by Act 34 of 2019.

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: Major amendments proposed: The Union Home Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the judicial committee of K.T. Thomas proposed amendments to the PDPP Act, 1984. The proposed changes are also aimed at keeping employees from organizing protests/campaigning. In this context, he published a circular on 20 May 2015.