Governor okays Public Property Ordinance, Protesters causing damage to property face 5 year jail

Whoever announces a direct action in the form of strikes, demonstrations, or other public forms of protests, which result in damage to public as well as private property can be punished with imprisonment for a period of two to five years and can be imposed a fine equivalent to the market value of the property damaged or destroyed.
This has been made possible by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Property (Prevention of Damage) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which was promulgated by Governor NN Vohra today.
The new Ordinance amends the existing law relating to damage to public property to more effectively prevent the deleterious activities of individuals or organisations, resulting in damage to public and private property.
The amendment to the existing law has been made to implement the directions given by the Supreme Court in a 2009 case, an official spokesman said here.
The Ordinance has been enacted to achieve the twin objectives to make mischief to public and private property due to direct action punishable and, to make any person calling for action liable for abetment to such offence.
Consequently, whoever announces strikes, demonstrations, or other public forms of protests, which result in damage to public as well as private property can be punished with imprisonment for a period of two to five years and can be imposed a fine equivalent to the market value of the property damaged or destroyed. Further, the scope of the existing law which was earlier restricted to public property — primarily government property or property owned by government entities — has been enlarged to also include private property.
As the state Legislature is not in the session, the Governor, on the recommendations of the Chief Minister, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 91 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir promulgated the Ordinance, which will come into force with an immediate effect.