- Short title, extent and commencement. –
- This Act may be called the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
- It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir .
- It shall be deemed to nave come into force on the 28th day of January, 1984.
- Definitions.-
In this Act. unless the context otherwise requires,-
a. “mischief’ shall have the same meaning as in section 425 of the Indian Penal Code
(45 of 1.860);
b. “public property” means any property, whether immovable or movable (including
put any machinery) which is owned by, or in the possession of, or under the
control of –
i. the Central Government; or
ii. any State Government; or
iii. any local authority; or
iv. any corporation established by, or under, a Central, Provincial or State
Act or
v. any company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of
1956); or
vi. any institution, concern or undertaking which the Central Government
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that the Central Government shall not specify, any institution,
concern or undertaking under this sub-clause unless such institution,
concern or undertaking is financed wholly or substantially by funds
provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government or by one or
more State Governments, or partly by the Central Government and
partly by one or more State Governments. - Mischief causing damage to public property. –(1)Whoever commits mischief by doing
any act in respect of any public property, other than public property of the nature referred
to in sub-section (2), shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to five years and with fine.
(2) Whoever commits mischief by doing any act in respect of any public
property being –
2 The Prevention of Damage to Pubic Property Act, 1984
a. any building, installation or other property used in connection with the
production, distribution or supply of water, light, power or energy ;
b. any oil installation;
c. any sewage work;
d. any mine or factory;
e. any means of public transportation or of tele-communications, or any
building, installation or other property used in connection therewith.
shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not
be less than six months, but which may extend to five years and with
fine:
Provided that the court may, for reasons to be recorded in its judgment, award a
sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months. - Mischief causing damage to public property by fire or explosive substance.-
Whoever commits an offence under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 3 by fire
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