Proposal to amend IPC to protect cops

In the wake of widespread attacks on police from the protesters, the Director General of Prosecutions (DGP) has proposed amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure Code.


The amendments aim at curbing the growing menace of destruction of public properties and attack on police officials and their family members.


Director General of Police T Asaf Ali sent a draft proposal to Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan recommending a punishment of 10 years and a fine for causing grievous hurt to public servants and five years for destroying public property.



Asaf Ali proposed insertion of section 21A of the Indian Penal Codewhich defines family members of a public servant.


“Blood relations of the public servant will be defined under the section,” it said. A new section- 332 A Indian Penal Code- will be added. According to it “if someone voluntarily causes hurt to any relative of the public servant, he will be punished to undergo imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and a fine.”


Punishment of ten years and a fine have been proposed for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the family members of a public servant under the new section 333A.


While a new section 427 A will be made under which whoever commits mischief causing damage to a property other than public property will get five years’ imprisonment and a fine.


All these offences have been made cognisable and non-bailable.


The Director General of Police has also suggested amendment to section 437(3) of the Criminal Procedure Codeasking persons who had damaged public property or other properties to deposit an amount equivalent to the loss caused to the public property.