(1) Any person whose property catches fire on account of an action of his own or of his agent, done deliberately or negligently shall be liable to pay compensation to any other person suffering damage to his property on account of fire or any action taken under section 17 of this Regulation by an officer mentioned therein or any person acting under the authority of such officer.
(2) All claims under sub-section (1) shall be preferred to the Appellate Authority, within a period of thirty days from the date when the damage was caused.
(3) The Appellate Authority shall, after giving an opportunity of being heard to the concerned persons, may determine the amount of compensation and pass an order in this regard while fixing the liability of the persons for paying such compensation.
(4) The order passed under sub-section (3) shall have the force of decree of a civil court and shall be implemented within thirty days from the date of receipt of the order.
CHAPTER X MISCELLANEOUS
51. The Joint Director may, with the previous approval of the Government, enter into an agreement with any Fire and Emergency Service or the Authority which maintains the said Fire and Emergency Service, beyond the limits of any area in which this Regulation is in force for providing personnel or equipment or both, for firefighting purposes, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by or under the agreement on reciprocal basis in public interest.
Compounding of offences.
Cognizance of offences.
Liability of property owner to pay compensation.
Reciprocal firefighting arrangements with other Fire and Emergency Service.
16 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— 16 Declaration of Fire and Emergency Service as technical service.
Deployment to other area.
Employment on other duties.
Power to obtain information.
Power to seal building or premises.
Police officers and others to aid.
Death of member of Fire and Emergency Service.
Officers to be public servants.
Protection of action taken in good faith.
52. Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law on the subject, the Government may, by notification, declare the Fire and Emergency Service as technical service.
53. The Joint Director or any officer authorised by the Government in this behalf may, on the occasion of a fire or other emergency in any neighbouring area in which this Regulation is not in force, order the deployment of the employees of the Fire and Emergency Service with necessary appliances and equipment to carry out firefighting operations in such neighbouring area and thereupon all the provisions of this Regulation and the rules made thereunder shall apply to such areas, during such period of fire emergency or during such period as the Joint Director may specify in this behalf.
54. It shall be lawful for the Government or any officer authorised by it in this behalf, to employ the Fire and Emergency Service in any rescue, salvage or other works for which it is suitable by reason of its training, appliances and equipment.
55. The Fire Officer authorised by general or special order in this behalf may, for the purpose of discharging his duties under this Regulation, require the owner or occupier of any building or other property as may be specified in such order, to supply information with respect to the features of such building or other property as may be specified therein, the available water supplies and means of access thereto and any other material particulars, and such owner or occupier shall furnish all the information in his possession.