UAPA BILL EXPLAINED: How & why it is the strongest version of the anti-terror bill yet

Taking a firm stance against terror, Rajya Sabha on Friday passed  Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill with 147-42 vote margin after a fiery debate on floor of parliamentary house. Earlier last week, Lok Sabha passed Bill with a ratio of 287:8 MPs voting on it. While Congress std a walkout after Assembly rejected a Parliamentary Standing Committee to review bill, BJD and SP voted for it.

What is Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill 2019?

According to PRS, this bill is an extension of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 which amends Act providing special procedures to counter terrorist activities, giving National Investigation ncy (NIA) in particular ditional powers while dealing with terrorism cases. Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, on July 8, 2019

Here are four major amendments specified in Bill, as explained by PRS:

• Definition of Terrorist:

Previously, under Act, Central government could designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it does any of following acts:

(i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism
(ii) prepares for terrorism
(iii) promotes terrorism
(iv) is orwise involved in terrorism

Bill ds same clauses to individuals, empowering government to designate an individiual as 'terrorist' on same grounds.

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• NIA can conduct investigations:

While Act specified that terror cases may be investigated by officers of rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above, Bill specifies that NIA officers of rank of Inspector or above may investigate cases.

• NIA Approval for seizure of property:

Under UAPA Act, every investigating officer was required to obtain prior approval of Director-General of Police if he wished to seize properties linked with terrorism. Bill ds clause that if investigation is conducted by an NIA officer, he approval of Director-General of NIA would be required for same.

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• Inclusion of ar treaty in Act:

Act defined terror acts to nclude acts committed in scope of any of treaties listed in Schedule list of Act which lists nine treaties. Some of major treaties listed are Convention for Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and Convention against Taking of Hosts (1979). 

To update Act according to recent terror activities, Bill ds International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005) to Schedule list of treaties.