The West Bengal government on Tuesday tabled a bill seeking to empower the administration to get court orders for the attachment and auction of the assets of people who damage public and private property “during agitation” in order to pay compensation to victims.
The bill proposes to amend the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act 1972.
The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced in the backdrop of several incidents of arson, loot, and damage of properties in the state by some anti-social elements "during agitations".
A key part of the Bill is that it has the provision for realisation of funds by selling in public auction the attached property under the said Act to pay compensation to the victim by framing a scheme under it.
"There are many anti-social activities in the name of agitations. Destructive acts like vandalism and looting also occur. Until now, compensation is paid only in the case of government property. This time, it has to be paid in case of destruction of private property too," Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said after tabling the Bill.
She made it clear that if the state government could not prove the reason for confiscating the property within 180 days, the confiscated property would be returned to the owner.
A similar law was passed in Uttar Pradesh during anti-CAA protests in 2019 and at that time, it was the Trinamool Congress which criticised it.
The opposition raised questions about why the TMC wants the same law in West Bengal now.
Bhattacharya said that there are differences between the law of UP and the proposed one in West Bengal.
The state assembly on Tuesday also tabled the Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill 2023 amending the Lokayukta Act, 2003, vesting in the Governor the power to extend the term of office of the Lokayukta.
The bill also proposed that the Lokayukta will retire after the age of 70 and the person cannot hold any government position post-retirement.
The government also tabled another bill that seeks to amend the West Bengal Land Reforms Act 1955 to provide an additional option of freehold transfer of government land to lessees for improving ease of doing business, hassle-free transfer/mortgage of land and to invite more investment.
It also introduced the West Bengal Landlaws (Repealing) Bill, 2023 at the state assembly.
The State Law Commission has recommended the repeal of several regulations and Acts which are centuries old, saying they are not relevant in the present context of the state.
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