The Bills, for the establishment of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and to amend the law to bring in more stringent provisions to deal with terror crimes, were finally presented to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, they were moved by Home Minister P Chidambaram, a day after the Union Cabinet approved them.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008, among other things, has deterrent provisions such as detention without bail for up to 180 days and the enhanced penalty of life imprisonment for those involved in terror.
The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008, will enable the proposed agency to function in a concurrent jurisdiction framework, and take up cases under specific Acts for investigation.
The NIA will have provisions for setting up of special courts which will hold back-to-back hearings. Any case pending in a special court may be transferred to any such court. The superintendence of the agency shall vest with the Centre.
It empowers the Central government to decide what constitutes terror and investigate such attacks in any part of the country covering offences, including challenge to country’s sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks on nuclear facilities.
The NIA Bill notes the spike in terror attacks, not only in the militancy and insurgency affected areas and regions affected by Left wing extremism, but also in the form of attacks and bomb blasts in major cities.
A large number of such incidents were found to have complex inter-State and international linkages and possible connection with activities such as smuggling or arms, drugs, pushing in and circulation of fake Indian currency and infiltration.
“Keeping all these in view, it has for long been felt that there is need for setting up an Agency at the Central level for investigation of offences related to terrorism and certain other Acts, which have national ramifications,” the Bill said.
Notwithstanding law and order being a State subject, NIA officers above the rank of sub-inspector will have special powers to pursue and investigate any terror offence sans frontiers.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008, among other things, has deterrent provisions such as detention without bail for up to 180 days and the enhanced penalty of life imprisonment for those involved in terror.
The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008, will enable the proposed agency to function in a concurrent jurisdiction framework, and take up cases under specific Acts for investigation.
The NIA will have provisions for setting up of special courts which will hold back-to-back hearings. Any case pending in a special court may be transferred to any such court. The superintendence of the agency shall vest with the Centre.
It empowers the Central government to decide what constitutes terror and investigate such attacks in any part of the country covering offences, including challenge to country’s sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks on nuclear facilities.
The NIA Bill notes the spike in terror attacks, not only in the militancy and insurgency affected areas and regions affected by Left wing extremism, but also in the form of attacks and bomb blasts in major cities.
A large number of such incidents were found to have complex inter-State and international linkages and possible connection with activities such as smuggling or arms, drugs, pushing in and circulation of fake Indian currency and infiltration.
“Keeping all these in view, it has for long been felt that there is need for setting up an Agency at the Central level for investigation of offences related to terrorism and certain other Acts, which have national ramifications,” the Bill said.
Notwithstanding law and order being a State subject, NIA officers above the rank of sub-inspector will have special powers to pursue and investigate any terror offence sans frontiers.
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