Tough Anti-Hijacking Law comes into Force in India

• India has just reformed its anti-hijacking legislation which introduces death penalty
• The old law of 1982 has been substituted for the 2016 anti-hijacking law
• The new law has now come into force which prescribes capital punishment under certain scenarios

July 07, 2017: India has taken a strict and firm step to substitute its old vintage law designed in 1982 to a more impactful and stringent 2016 anti-hijacking law. The new law introduces and validated capital punishment in the event of the death of any person.

Previously, according to the 1982 formulated law, capital punishment could only be raised in the event of the death of a hostage which included flight crew, passengers, and security personal.

The new law has widened its definition to a broad category of the death of any hostage, including security personnel on board and ground staff members as well. In other cases, the guilty can potentially be punished for life imprisonment and fined, combined with the confiscation of movable and immovable property held.

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The law also includes numerous acts in the definition of hijacking, such as making a threat, attempts, and abetment to commit the offense.

The law which comes into force 5th July 2017 onwards also adds that organizing or invoking someone directly to carry out hijacking will also be included in the offense under the new law.

The central government is to have the power of investigation, arrests, and prosecution. The stricter and reformed bill comes after Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi introduced a bill in Rajya Sabha to repeal the 1982 Anti-Hijacking Act in 2014. The new bill was passed on 4th May 2016 by the Upper House.

– prepared by Saksham Narula of NewsGram. Twitter: @Saksham2394