Team Herald
PANJIM: Acting tough against companies or individuals or others involved in defacing public property, the State Government has made it a “cognisable and non-bailable” offence giving powers to police to arrest the offenders.
The State Cabinet on Wednesday accorded its approval for amendment to Goa Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1988 (Goa Act of 1990), wherein those responsible for causing defacement to public property will be liable to pay for the loss caused to property as quantified by the District Collectors.
The amendment will be introduced during the upcoming one-day long Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly, scheduled on July 27.
“Public property is defaced by many on various pretexts and is left unattended thereafter. It leads to huge loss and great inconvenience to the public,” the Cabinet note of the Bill, reads.
“It is observed that due to absence of required provisions in the Goa Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, the authorities are unable to take adequate action against the offenders,” it added.
Under the amendment, Police are given powers to arrest a person without warrant, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the offence will be considered as cognizable and non-bailable.
