SC to frame guidelines for punishing vandals

The Supreme Court reserved its order on laying guidelines for punishing leaders and imposing fine on them for the destruction of public properties during political agitations.

The apex court will frame the guidelines by considering the suggestions of Solicitor General G E Vahanvati and senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan who is assisting the court as amicus curaie in the matter.

They have prepared the suggestions on the basis of the report of the apex court-appointed committees headed by former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas and senior advocte Fali S Nariman.

During the brief hearing,a Bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat said the guidelines would be in force until Parliament makes suitable amendment to Pervention of Damage to Public Properties Act,1984.

The bench cited the earlier precedent set by the apex court in the historic 1997 “Visaka” case wherein despite there being no law,the apex court framed a rule that it would be mandatory for all employers private/government in the country to constitute in-house mechanism to check sexual harassment of women at work place.

The Bench,also comprising Justices L S Panta and P Sathasivam,appreciated the work of the Thomas and Nariman committees saying the recommendations made by them were significant.