Delhi Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Act,1986
Act No : 56
Section : SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
DELHI FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE SAFETY ACT, 1986
56 of 1986
An Act to make more effective provision for the fire prevention and fire safety measures in certain buildings and premises in the Union territory of Delhi Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :-
Prefatory Note-Statement of Objects and Reasons.-The Delhi Fire Brigade, which is controlled by the Delhi Municipal Corporation, is responsible for taking fire-fighting and fire safety measures in the entire Union territory of Delhi. The existing provisions in
the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, to enforce the fire safety measures, particularly in multi-storey buildings, had been found to be most inadequate in the absence of the necessary statutory authority for the fire prevention enforcement agencies to compel the owners of buildings to carry out the necessary measures for prevention of fires. No specific penalties arc provided in the Act for the contravention of any fire safety measures and such penalties are also not adequate enough to effectively curb the violations of the fire prevention measures provided under the Act. It has also been found that the owners of buildings do not provide the necessary fire safety measures in buildings as required by the building plans approved by local authorities. Although the Delhi Fire Brigade exercises jurisdiction over the entire Union territory of Delhi, the four local authorities existing in the Union territory of Delhi are governed by their own respective laws and there if no unified single agency which is clothed with the necessary powers to coordinate the fire prevention, fighting or safety measures.
In view of this position, it is felt that in order to effectively control the fires occurring in the Union territory of Delhi and to take necessary safety measures for the prevention of such fires, it is necessary to provide for fire prevention and fire safety measures in the Union territory of Delhi.
2. The Bill, accordingly, provides for the following, among other matters, namely :-
(i) All buildings having such height as may be specified by rules and premises used for storing explosives, explosive substances and dangerously inflammable substances, shall be provided with the requisite fire prevention and fire safety measures.
(ii) Provision has been made for inspection of buildings and premises by the nominated authority, appointed by the Chief Fire Officer, for ascertaining the adequacy or contravention of fire prevention and fire safety measures required to be taken by the occupier or owner of the building or premises.
(iii) Contravention of any of the provisions of the Bill will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine extending to fifty thousand rupees, or with both. In the case of continuing offences, the offender will be liable for punishment of fine up to three thousand rupees for every day for which the offence is continued.
(iv) Provision for an appeal against any notice or order of the Chief Fire Officer or the nominated authority to the Appellate Tribunal and against the order of the Appellate Tribunal to the Administrator has been proposed.
3. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called the Delhi Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Act, 1986.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Delhi.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
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