The Uttarakhand Prevention of Defacement of Public property Act, 2003

(1) This Act may be called The Uttarakhand Prevention of Defacement of Public property Act, 2003. (2) It extends to the whole of State of Uttarakhand. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may by notification, in the Gazette appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires--- (a) “District Magistrate” means District Magistrate of the respective districts of the State of Uttarakhand. (b) “Defacement” includes impairing or interfering with the appearance or beauty, damaging, disfiguring, spoiling or injuring in any other why whatsoever and the word “ deface” shall be construed accordingly; (c) “Public Property” includes any building, hut, structure, wall, tree, fence, post, pole or any other erection; (d) “Writing” includes decoration, lettering, ornamentation etc.

(1) Whoever, defaces any property in public view by writing of marking with ink, chalk, paint or any other material including pasting of posters except for the purpose of indication the name and address of the owner or occupier of such property, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both. (2) Where any offence committed under sub-section (1) is for the benefit of some other person or a company or other body corporate or an association of persons (whether incorporated or not), then such other person and every President, Chairman, Director, partner, manager, Secretary, Agent of any other office or person concerned with the management thereof, as the case may be, shall unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or consent, be deemed to be guilty of such offence.

An offence punishable under this Act shall be cognizable.

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 3, it shall be competent for the District magistrate to take such steps as may be necessary for erasing any writing, freeing any defacement or removing any mark from any public property.

The State Government may by notification in the Gazette make rules or carrying out the purpose of this Act, including any rules prescribing fees in respect of any proceeding under this Act.

The provisions of the Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force.