Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005

Why in News ?

• Recently, the former Chief Secretary of West Bengalwas served a show cause notice by the Home Ministry under Section 51 of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005.
  • Key Points

About the Show Cause Notice:

• The notice was issuedfor failing to comply with the Centre’s directions to attend the review meeting on Cyclone Yaas chaired by the Prime Minister in Bengal’s Kalaikunda.
• The Act is violative of Section 51 (b) of the DM Act, 2005.
• Though the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training)is the cadre-controlling authority of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, the show cause notice was served under provisions of the DM Act, which is under the purview of the Home Ministry.

Section 51 (b) of the DM Act:

• The section prescribes “punishment for obstruction”for refusal to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central government or the State government or the National Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee or the District Authority under the Act.
• Anyone refusing to comply with orders is liable for punishmentwith imprisonment up to one year, or fine, or both. In case this refusal leads to death of people, the person liable shall be punished with imprisonment up to two years.