SC for making Sec 441 of IPC non-bailable

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court today sought the views of the Centre and States on the issue of making Section 441 of IPC (Criminal Trespass) a non-bailable offence to check the menace of government bungalows and quarters being occupied by unauthorised occupants illegally.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agarwal and P P Naolekar fixed September 19 for hearing the argument on the point.

Justice Agarwal during the hearing of a PIL remarked ''We suggest the government to make suitable amendments in the law to make an offence under 441 of IPC a non-bailable offence. Presently the offence is bailable. All unauthorised occupants including politicians, bureaucrats and government servants should be booked under Section 441 of IPC and the process of making recoveries of outstanding dues including penal rent from such unauthorised occupants should also be made more stringent.'' The court had earlier directed the authorities to immediately suspend and dismiss from service and book all illegal occupants under Section 441 of IPC.

UP and Orissa have already made an offence under Section 441 of IPC as non-bailable offence.

The governments at both Center and States have been under fire from the Supreme Court for not taking effective steps in checking against illegal occupants of government accomodation.

UNI