National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 19/07/2019 – Posted in: Press Information Bureau

National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019

(Ministry of Home Affairs)

WHAT

National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Lok Sabha.

  • Bill proposes to empower NIA to investigate Terror Crimes relating to Indians and Indian interests abroad.
  • The bill will strengthen the legal framework against terrorism.
  • The Act provides for a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).

 

Scheduled offences

The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA.

These includes:

(i) The Atomic Energy Act, 1962

(ii) The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.

 

In addition, the bill seeks to allow the National Investigation Agency to investigate the offences, such as:

(i) Human trafficking

(ii) Offences related to counterfeit currency or banknotes

(iii) Manufacture or sale of prohibited arms

(iv) Cyber-terrorism

(v) Offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

 

VISION

India would finish terrorism by building a strong National Investigation Agency.

 

JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY

  • The officers of the NIA have the same powers as other police officers in relation to the investigation of such offences.
  • Officers of the NIA will have the power to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.
  • The Special Court in New Delhi will have jurisdiction over these cases.

 

Special Courts

  • The Act allows for the creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
  • The Bill amends this to state that the central government may designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
  • The central government is required to consult the Chief Justice of the High Court under which the Sessions Court is functioning, before designating it as a Special Court.
  • State governments may also designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.

Background

The National Investigation Agency was set up in 2009 in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack.

 

Source: PIB

 

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