India’s administration of internal security is beset by numerous issues. Terrorist activity is on the rise, as are cross-border terrorist operations and insurgent factions in many regions of the nation. Today, terrorism affects the entire world and has taken on global proportions.
The reach and tactics used by terrorist organizations and groups leverage contemporary technology and communication channels, utilizing high-tech resources such as sophisticated weapons, transportation, communication systems, and other tools. They can now attack and terrorize anyone at will because of this.
Law Concerning Anti terrorism: Meaning
According to the meaning, it basically refers to the tactics, plans, and procedures used to stop, stop, and deal with terrorist attacks. The use of force or intimidation to spread fear and further ideological, religious, or political objectives is referred to as terrorism. The goal of anti-terrorism initiatives is to defend people, places, and countries against the threats and acts of terrorism.
law against terrorism in India
There are various law against terrorism in India. The list of anti terrorism laws in India is as follows:
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967)
- This Act was created to address groups and endeavors that called into doubt India’s territorial integrity. It is one of the law against terrorism in India. The Act’s scope was strictly restricted to addressing threats to India’s territorial integrity.
- The Act was a self-contained set of rules that included provisions for outlawing separatist associations, tribunal adjudication, controlling money and locations of operations for these associations, penalizing their members, and more.
- Since its inception, the Act has been approached holistically and falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the central list found in the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- The year 2019 saw more changes to the UAPA in order to expand its scope. Section 15 of the UAPA defines a “terrorist act” as any act that is intended to threaten or is likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security [economic security], or sovereignty of India, or that is intended to incite terror in the people of India or any other foreign nation.
National Security Act (1980)
- It is claimed to be the very first law specifically addressing Laws related to terrorism in India. The Maintenance of Internal Security Act is believed to have superseded this specific law, but regrettably, it was discredited in an emergency.
- The National Security Agency (NSA) gave the Central and State governments the authority to hold anyone without charge or trial for a maximum of one year if they believed that the person’s actions would act in a manner detrimental to the defense of India or to the security of India.
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (1987)
- The main purpose of the 1987 Terrorist & Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act was to address terrorist activity in India. It had more stringent rules than the UAPA.
- The nation’s highest court heard a challenge to TADA’s legality at the time of its enactment. The Supreme Court of India upheld its constitutional legitimacy in the Kartar Singh v State of Punjab case by relying on the assumption that people endowed with such harsh statutory powers will behave in the public interest and with good intentions.
- Nonetheless, there were several instances of the misuse of authority leading to unforeseen consequences. Law enforcement officials started taking advantage of the statute’s stringent requirements. The TADA was scrapped in 1995.
Prevention of Terrorism Act (2002)
- This Act is reported to have taken the place of TADA when it was scrapped. The majority of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court in Kartar Singh’s case were incorporated into POTA.
- Several groups had been designated as terrorist organizations by this point. To cope with these kinds of groups, POTA was passed. It had a number of clauses that outlined procedures for handling “terrorist organizations.”
- It made joining such a group illegal as well as giving them any support at all. It included provisions for a prompt trial as well as a quasi-judicial mechanism to examine the state’s actions in this respect.
- Mens rea emerged as a crucial component for attracting liability under POTA. POTA was struck down in 2004 as a result of numerous criticisms and the government’s abuse of the laws.
Law Enforcement Agencies: Combatting Terrorism in India
- India’s intelligence organization is known as the Intelligence Bureau. The job of the IB is to compile and evaluate any information that law enforcement authorities receive about terrorism. The examination of IB forms a major basis for the actions taken by different counterterrorism organizations with respect to internal affairs.
- Another intelligence organization is RAW. The IB handles affairs within the nation, but RAW’s primary responsibility is to get intelligence regarding potential exterior threats. RAW uses a range of strategies to achieve this, such as ongoing surveillance of cross-border movements and collaboration with international organizations. The RAW was founded in 1968.
- The police are actively involved in the fight against terrorism. There are numerous Special Task Forces (STFs) at the state level that conduct operations at the state level. Security is provided at the Center by a number of paramilitary groups, including the CRPF, BSF, and CISF. The efforts of different forces are closely coordinated with each other.
The nation of India has anti-terrorism laws in response to the grave and ever-changing challenges it faces. Even if these regulations are crucial for preserving national security, this is also critical to make sure that people’s fundamental rights are not violated. Finding the ideal balance between safety requirements and civil freedoms is a never-ending task that necessitates regular examination, revision, and modification of legal frameworks. In order to create a more secure and safer country, it is crucial to preserve the values of fairness, equity, and uphold human rights while India battles the threat of terrorism in India.
