• UGI USER
  • May 17, 2024
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UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES PREVENTION ACT (UAPA) 1967

Why in the news?

  • Many activists, journalists, and students booked under UAPA across India.
  • UAPA passed in 1967, aims at preventing unlawful activities associations.
  • Defines unlawful activity as actions disrupting India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
  • Raises concerns about freedom of expression and misuse of anti-terror laws.
source:slideshare

Key Points about Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA):

  • Passed in 1967 for effective prevention of unlawful activities.
  • Defines unlawful activity as actions disrupting India’s territorial integrity.
  • Grants absolute power to the Central government to declare activities unlawful.
  • Applicable to both Indian and foreign nationals.
  • Allows NIA to file a charge sheet within 180 days of arrest, extendable with court notification.
About 2004 Amendment to UAPA:

●     Added “terrorist act” to ban organisations for terrorist activities.

●     Resulted in banning 34 outfits, including Khalistan Zindabad Force, Lashkar-E-Taiba, Jaish-E-Mohammed.

●     Highest punishments include death penalty and life imprisonment.

UAPA Amendment Act 2019 Highlights:

●     Added “terrorist act” to ban organisations for terrorist activities.

●     Death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments.

●     Empowered NIA Director General for property seizure/attachment approval.

●     NIA officers of Inspector rank or above authorised for terrorism investigations.

●     Provision for designating individuals as terrorists introduced.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/sc-agencies-must-provide-written-grounds-for-uapa-arrests/