Delhi enforces law against defacement of property

The Delhi government has enforced a law that would make defacement of any property by writing on walls or pasting posters and banners a punishable offence, a state government release said here Monday.

The Delhi government has enforced a law that would make defacement of any property by writing on walls or pasting posters and banners a punishable offence, a state government release said here Monday.

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"The Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 2007 came into force in the whole of Delhi March 1, 2009. Delhi Urban Development Minister AK Walia has appealed to the public to avoid defacement of property and to help in improving the beauty and aesthetics of the city," said a Delhi government statement.

The law says that only the name or the address of the owner can be written on the walls of the building. The offence is a cognizable one - meaning that police can arrest the offender without a warrant.

"Defacement of property is a growing menace in Delhi and the sight of banners, posters and other kinds of defacements is not uncommon," the release said.

Offenders can be imprisoned upto one year or fined upto Rs 50,000.