The Disaster Management (DM) Act significantly boosts the authority of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the central government. It gives them the power to issue instructions to any authority across India, overriding any existing laws, to help with disaster management efforts. Not complying with these directions is considered a violation of the act.
- The Act is made up of 79 sections and is organized into 11 chapters.
- Notably, Chapter 10 specifically addresses ‘Offences and Penalties.’
- Section 51 stipulates that individuals who refuse or neglect to comply with orders may face punishment, including imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both.
- Article 52 ensures that individuals making false claims to obtain relief benefits can be sentenced to almost two years in prison along with a fine.
- Article 54 mandates a penalty of either one year in prison or a fine for those who spread false alarms about the severity of a disaster.
- Recently, Articles 52 and 54 of the Act have gained significance due to the surge in unverified information circulating on social media platforms, especially regarding COVID. These provisions aim to address the spreading of false information and promote accountability.
Read Also: Relevant Sections of NDMA 2005
