Kolkata: The Bengal Assembly approved a measure allowing for the attachment and auctioning off of the accused's assets in order to compensate the "aggrieved" owner of a property damaged in any act of vandalism.
The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is comparable to laws currently in effect in Uttar Pradesh, MP, Haryana, and Karnataka, all of which are states ruled by the BJP. In Chhattisgarh, the provision is restricted to providing compensation for harm done to medical facilities as a result of unrest in the community.
By definition, the person who feels wronged can be either a resident or the state itself. Within 60 days of the damage being done, anyone wanting compensation must file a claim with the designated court. An ad-interim attachment ruling good for 180 days will come after this.
The property (of the accused) will be attached after a hearing involving both sides. There won’t be any violation of natural justice,” state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.
The Bill faced resistance from the opposition BJP, which alleged that the state was trying to “gag” political movements. “We feel this is a regressive step and will serve to curb democratic political agitation,” said BJP chief whip Manoj Tigga.