Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday, 28 May 2026, reaffirmed his government's zero-tolerance stance on public disorder, stating that the Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Act 2024 is now in force to ensure rioters and troublemakers pay for losses they cause to both public and private property in the state.

Context

In his post on X, CM Dhami wrote in Hindi: 'देवभूमि उत्तराखंड की शांति, सुरक्षा और कानून व्यवस्था से खिलवाड़ करने वालों के लिए हमारी सरकार की नीति शुरू से स्पष्ट रही है' ['Our government's policy has been clear from the beginning for those who tamper with the peace, security and law and order of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand']. He added that a promise had been made to the public that rioters and troublemakers would be made to compensate for damage to public and private property, and that the 2024 Act has been enacted to fulfil precisely that commitment.

The Chief Minister also declared: 'हम तुष्टिकरण की राजनीति के लिए देवभूमि की कानून व्यवस्था को कमजोर नहीं होने देंगे' ['We will not allow the law and order of Devbhoomi to be weakened for the politics of appeasement']. He warned that strict action would be taken against those who spread riots, anarchy and violence in Uttarakhand.

Policy Backdrop

The Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Act 2024 creates a legal mechanism to recover riot-related losses directly from perpetrators, shifting the financial burden away from the state exchequer and onto those responsible for the damage. The legislation follows a similar model pioneered by Uttar Pradesh, which enacted its own property damage recovery law around 2020.

The BJP government in Uttarakhand had flagged strict anti-riot measures as a manifesto commitment ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections. The 2024 Act represents the legislative fulfilment of that pledge, providing law enforcement and courts with a statutory tool to pursue financial restitution from individuals convicted or found liable for inciting or participating in public disturbances.

Stakeholders and Impact

Property owners — both private citizens and public bodies — stand to benefit most directly from the Act, as it creates an enforceable right to compensation that did not previously exist under a dedicated state statute. Law enforcement agencies in Uttarakhand are now empowered to initiate recovery proceedings alongside criminal prosecution, adding a significant financial deterrent to potential offenders.

The framing of the announcement also carries a pointed political message. CM Dhami's explicit rejection of 'appeasement politics' signals that the government intends to apply the law uniformly, without making exceptions based on community or electoral considerations — a position consistent with the BJP's broader national messaging on law and order.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the operational rollout of the Act: how many recovery notices are issued, the quantum of damages assessed, and whether affected parties challenge the legislation before the Uttarakhand High Court or the Supreme Court of India. Constitutional questions around due process and the scope of state power to impose civil liability in riot cases have been raised in similar legislation elsewhere and could surface here as well.

For CM Dhami, the announcement reinforces a law-and-order brand that has been central to his administration since 2021. Whether the Act translates into measurable recoveries — or faces legal hurdles that delay implementation — will determine its real-world impact and its political resonance ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.