Supreme Court ready for hearing on amendments to UAPA law

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. September 6, 2019, Friday

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Center, preparing for a hearing on a petition challenging the constitutional merits of amendments to UAPA law. The amendment to the UAPA law enables the government to declare designated persons a terrorist and confiscate their properties.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Judge Ashok Bhushan filed a petition filed by Delhi resident Sajal Awasthi and the NGO 'Association for Protection of Civil Rights' (APCRI) against amendments to the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The bench issued a notice to the Center following the introduction of the applicants in this regard.

The Supreme Court has also been prepared for hearing on the merits of the recent amendments to the UAPA after the Supreme Court prepared for the elimination of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

On behalf of the applicants, Avasarthi said that amendments to the provisions of UAPA violate the fundamental rights of citizens like equality rights, freedom of speech and expression and the right to life. The UAPA 2019 enables the central government to impose indirect sanctions on civil rights rights under the auspices of combating terrorism.

An improvement in these provisions can be deadly for a healthy democratic society in the country. Under this amendment, a person is not given a chance to respond after being declared a terrorist. In addition, under UAPA, 1967, only organizations could be declared terrorists while under the new amendment, individuals could also be declared terrorists.

The bill for reform of the UAPA was passed in Parliament on August 2nd and was approved by the President on August 9th. There are also provisions under the amended law to restrict a person's travel once he is declared a terrorist.