The Hindu : Front Page : Cabinet nod for repeal of POTA

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Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

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Front Page

Cabinet nod for repeal of POTA

By Our New Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG. 10. The Union Cabinet today gave its nod for repeal of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) before it lapses on October 23, three years after the legislation was first brought into force through an ordinance.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, S. Jaipal Reddy, said the repeal would not have retrospective effect but it would be ensured that the interests of innocent were protected. It would mean that all the cases would continue to be tried.

Two Bills — one for the repeal of POTA and another to make amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — would be introduced in the second half of the current Budget session of Parliament due to begin on August 16.

Review panel to stay

"We are conscious of the need to provide relief to the innocent people while repealing POTA. We will provide for such safeguards as to take care of innocent people," he said. The Central POTA Review Committee would continue to function to review existing cases.

Mr. Reddy said the proposed amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act would take care of concerns relating to internal security, including funding of terrorist organisations.

Initially brought as an ordinance, the POTA Bill was passed by a joint session of Parliament on March 26, 2002. The Act was not applied in 15 States and six Union Territories. However, in the rest of the States, a total of 301cases have been registered involving over 1,600 persons. Of them, over 500 are in jail and 885 are absconding.

The important persons held under POTA were the MDMK general secretary Vaiko and eight of his partymen; journalist `Nakkeeran' R. Gopal; P. Nedumaran; Raghuraj Pratap Singh, at present Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government; some children and women in Jharkhand and many Muslims after the Gujarat riots.

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