The state cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment that empowers police officers to arrest without warrant any person who is “about to commit” any defacement of public property.
The Goa Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1998 (amendment) Bill, 2020, will also let cops arrest without warrant anyone who disfigures, destroys or demolishes public property, as well as make them compensate the state for the loss.
State Cabinet Approved Amendment Empowers Police to Arrest
An official said that the Act was originally brought in to prevent the defacement of public property. However, in the absence of appropriate (preventive) provisions, vandals can easily commit these offences, he said.
