M A I N   N E W S

NHRC to be consulted on PoT Bill
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, July 17 — In the wake of sharp reaction and criticism the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Bill (PoT) has evoked in several quarters, the Centre today announced that it would consult the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the proposed legislation.

After NHRC, today it was the turn of Members of Parliament who voiced their concern over some provisions of the proposed legislation and some even suggesting that existing laws should suffice the task of tackling terrorism.

The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, told members of the Consultative Committee attached to the ministry today that the government had yet to take a decision on such a legislation and that wide-ranging debates and consultations would be held before introducing it, a press note said today.

In fact, several MPs today expressed the opinion that existing laws were sufficient to tackle terrorism, an opinion given by the NHRC which criticised the proposed Bill drafted by the Law Commission. There was criticism in other quarters that the proposed legislation was stringent and was anti-media.

Some MPs also opposed the provision for admissibility of confessions before the police as they felt that it would be open to misuse. Others suggested that if such a legislation was enacted, it should be specific to terrorist activities only or limited to areas which were declared as disturbed areas” by the government.

Some members were of the opinion that there was need for the modernisation of the police force and strengthening of investigation, intelligence agencies, besides prosecuting agencies to tackle the situation. There was yet another view that such a legislation should not be rejected merely because of apprehensions.

Members were unanimous that terrorism was posing a grave threat to national unity and integrity and the menace had to be curbed.

Mr Advani also said the conference of Chief Ministers on internal security to be held here next month would provide an opportunity to assess the view-points on the need for such a legislation. He said if necessary various political parties could also be consulted.

Giving a background in which the Law Commission had drafted the Bill, Mr Advani said after the lapse of the Terrorist Activities and Disruptives (Prevention) Act demands for such a legislation were made from several quarters and the government had asked the commission to draft a legislation in conformity with similar legislations in other democracies and with enough safeguards.

Summing up the discussions, the Home Minister said the deliberations had been fruitful and that points raised by members would be taken into consideration.

Regarding limiting the application to disturbed areas, he said in such a case, a terrorist’s crime in other areas would remain outside the legislation.

About the Bill’s provision on obligation to furnish information and the apprehension that this would cover mediapersons, he said, it had been clarified that this would not be so and that existing laws of the Indian Penal Code had similar provisions. In any case, before taking views on the draft Bill it would be discussed with journalists.

The meeting was attended among others by the Ministers of State for Home Mr I.D. Swami and Mr C. Vidyasagar Rao.