Sections 66, 67 and 68: Compensation, Media Warnings and Authentication of Orders
Sections 66 to 68 deal with three practical parts of disaster administration: compensation when premises or vehicles are requisitioned, communication of official disaster warnings through media and other communication channels, and formal authentication of orders or decisions of disaster management authorities.
Updated: 24 September 2026. The text below reflects the Disaster Management Act, 2005 as affected by the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, which came into force on 9 April 2025.
Section 66 - Payment of compensation
Section 66 applies when premises or a vehicle are requisitioned under Section 65 for rescue operations or other disaster-management purposes. It establishes the basis for determining compensation and provides an arbitration mechanism where the amount, entitlement or apportionment is disputed.
Compensation for requisitioned premises
Section 66(1): When a Committee, Authority or officer referred to in Section 65(1) requisitions premises, compensation is payable to the persons interested. In determining the amount, regard is to be had to the rent payable for the premises, or the rent for similar premises in the locality where no rent is payable, and reasonable expenses caused by a required change of residence or place of business.
A person aggrieved by the compensation may apply within thirty days to the Central Government or State Government, as applicable, for reference to an arbitrator. A dispute concerning title to receive compensation or apportionment of compensation is also to be referred to an arbitrator appointed by the appropriate Government.
Meaning of "person interested": For Section 66(1), this means the person who was in actual possession of the requisitioned premises immediately before requisition under Section 65, or, if nobody was in actual possession, the owner of the premises.
Compensation for requisitioned vehicles
Section 66(2): When a vehicle is requisitioned under Section 65, compensation is payable to its owner and is determined by the Central Government or State Government, as applicable, on the basis of prevailing local fares or hire rates.
An aggrieved owner may, within the prescribed time, seek reference of the compensation amount to an arbitrator. Where a vehicle or vessel was in another person's possession under a hire-purchase agreement immediately before requisition, compensation is apportioned between that person and the owner by agreement or, failing agreement, as decided by the appointed arbitrator.
- Section 66 is linked directly to the requisitioning power in Section 65.
- Premises compensation takes account of rental value and reasonable relocation expenses.
- Vehicle compensation is based on prevailing local hire fares or rates.
- Arbitration is the statutory mechanism for specified compensation disputes.
Section 67 - Direction to media for communication of warnings, etc.
Section 67 enables disaster-management authorities to use available communication systems to disseminate warnings and advisories concerning a threatening disaster situation or disaster.
Current position: The National Authority, State Authority, District Authority or Urban Authority may recommend to the Government that a direction be given to any authority or person controlling audio, audio-visual or other available means of communication to carry warnings or advisories concerning a threatening disaster situation or disaster. The designated communication medium is required to comply with the direction.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 amended Section 67 by adding the Urban Authority to the authorities covered by this provision. This aligns warning dissemination with the new urban disaster-management framework.
Section 68 - Authentication of orders or decisions
Section 68 concerns the formal authentication of orders and decisions made by specified disaster-management authorities and committees. Authentication helps establish that an order or decision has been issued through an officer authorised by the relevant statutory body.
Current position: Every order or decision of the National Authority, National Executive Committee, State Authority, State Executive Committee, District Authority or Urban Authority is to be authenticated by an officer of the relevant body who is authorised by it for that purpose.
The 2025 amendment expressly brought orders and decisions of an Urban Authority within Section 68.
Official legal sources
For authoritative verification, consult the current statutory materials published by the Government of India. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 received Presidential assent on 29 March 2025 and its provisions came into force on 9 April 2025.
India Code - Disaster Management Act, 2005 Ministry of Home Affairs - Laws, Policies and Plans National Institute of Disaster Management - DM Act and Amendment