The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ordinance likely to protect public servants too

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ordinance likely to protect public servants too

Ravi Reddy

Concern expressed over rising incidents of assault and damage to government property

Instances of mobs ransacking government offices in full media glare common
Offenders go scot-free and get bail as police book only a petty case against them

HYDERABAD: The government is considering a proposal to promulgate yet another ordinance to make assault or use of criminal force against government servants a cognisable and non-bailable offence.

Taking a cue from the proposed enactment to protect medical workers, a move to bring a similar ordinance for safeguarding the interests of government servants was discussed at a meeting Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy convened here on Sunday.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s office said that officials expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of assault on government servants and damage to government properties in several parts of the State.

They are believed to have impressed upon the Chief Minister the need to bring an enactment to check the trend.

Jail term

Officials explained that Section 353 of Indian Penal Code laid down that assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duties was a punishable offence with imprisonment for a term of two years or with fine.

They suggested that there was urgent need to bring an ordinance wherein such incidents were treated cognisable and non-bailable offence. There have been instances where protestors or mobs attacked government offices and ransacked the premises in full media glare.

Despite such serious breach of law, the offenders often managed to go scot-free and get bail as police booked only a petty case against them.

Tough action

Sources pointed out that the government was planning to write to the Centre to look into the plea.

The section in IPC needs to be amended so as to initiate tough action against persons guilty of assaulting public servants.

The Chief Minister is reported to have asked officials to work out the legal intricacies of promulgating an ordinance, sources said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh