A division bench of justices Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and Prakash Naik of the Bombay High Court observed that those who destroy public property during protests should be made to pay damages along with organizers and office-bearers of the organization involved in the agitation.
The observation was made in pursuance of a petition by Ahmed Noori, who was ordered to pay damages in 2012 Azad Maidan riot case. The bench stated “We are of the firm opinion that if those causing destruction and damage to public property in the garb of holding peaceful agitation have to be proceeded against for civil wrongs together with criminal prosecution, then, the law postulates a recovery of monetary sums” The judges further stated that “The HC judges said the damage should be assessed and the amount recovered so that "the state sends a strong message to these wrongdoers and to those who claim that they have organized these agitations peacefully. Together with the organizers, their office-bearers and members of the public indulging in riotous behaviour causing destruction and damaging public property should be visited with severe consequences".
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