After UCC, Uttarakhand Proposes Legislation to Recover Damages from Rioters

The Uttarakhand government is all set to introduce the ‘Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Bill’ during the budget session commencing on Monday. Although Uttarakhand has generally remained a peaceful state, government sources indicate that the need for legislation arose after the recent riots in Haldwani.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to recovering damages amounting to crores from the individuals accused of rioting in the Haldwani incident.

Government sources said that the proposed bill will grant the right to recover damages to both government and private properties caused by incidents such as protests or riots. Once the bill passes the House, it will be forwarded for the governor’s assent, subsequently becoming an act upon approval.

A tribunal, led by a retired judge, will examine charges following the formal complaint registration. The tribunal will issue a recovery order after assessing losses and hearing from the involved parties. The order of the tribunal will be binding, according to home department sources.

It is learnt that the Haryana government introduced a similar law in 2021, and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh first introduced the act in 2020. Uttarakhand will become the third state to enact such legislation.

Nonetheless, the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state assembly last month. With this, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to pass the UCC bill in the assembly.

WHAT HAPPENED IN HALDWANI?

Violence erupted on February 8 over the demolition of an ‘illegally’ built madrasa in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani. Locals threw stones and petrol bombs at municipal workers and police, forcing many police personnel to seek refuge at a police station, which the mob then set on fire.

The alleged mastermind of the violence, Abdul Malik, was apprehended in Delhi on February 24. Malik is accused of constructing the ‘illegal’ madrasa. He vehemently opposed the administration’s action, and his wife Safia had gone to court challenging the Municipal Corporation notice for its demolition.

At least six rioters have been killed, and over 100 individuals, including police and media personnel, were injured. The police have arrested 68 individuals in connection with the violence, and their properties have been seized.