news details |
|
|
| AFSPA amendments likely in CCS meeting | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Notwithstanding the opposition from army and defence ministry, amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), aimed at making it "more humane", are likely to be placed soon before the cabinet committee on security (CCS), the highest government body on security issues.
Official sources said the amendment proposal, which was strongly backed by home minister P Chidambaram, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and several groups in the northeast, was expected to be placed before CCS in its next meeting.
Through the amendment, it was being proposed that arrest warrants were secured in advance and grievance cells set up to address citizens' complaints against the armed forces, the sources added. By amending clause 4 (a) of the controversial Act, the government proposes to abolish the power given to the armed forces which allows them to open fire causing death, they said. The proposed amendments were submitted before the CCS three months ago but were sent back to Home Ministry for reconsideration following strong opposition from the Defence Ministry. Army says the Act provides it with essential legal protection, a stand backed by defence minister AK Antony.
But the home ministry, after examination, decided to re-submit the proposed amendment bill to the CCS without any changes. The revised proposal has also incorporated the views of the three interlocutors appointed to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. AFSPA, often dubbed as "draconian" for the widespread powers it gives to the Army - guarantees that army officers can operate without fear of arrest by civil authorities.
The defence ministry's view, however, is that while these amendments are acceptable in a scenario where the army is called in to aid civil authority - for example, in the case of riots and civil unrest - they are too restrictive in Kashmir and the Northeast where the army has to take on well-trained, heavily-armed fighters, they said. The home minister has often been citing the statement made by prime minister Manmohan Singh that "he will take steps to replace the AFSPA by a more humane law."The second Administrative Reforms Commission has also recommended replacement of AFSPA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
