Published on 17 Jun 2024
PolityUAPA
NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTS
After the repeal of terror-specific laws like terror-specific legislations like the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and Prevention of Terrorism Act and POTA due to legal challenges, the UAPA became India's primary anti-terror legislation.
The Act empowers the central government to declare activities unlawful through an Official Gazette, with death penalty and life imprisonment as the severest penalties.
In 2004, the UAPA was amended to include 'terrorist activities', leading to the banning of 34 outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
The 2019 amendment made it possible for the Union Government to designate individuals as terrorists without following any formal judicial process.
The UAPA applies to both Indian and foreign nationals, allowing charges to be enforced regardless of where the crime was committed, including foreign territories outside India.
Under the Act, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has the authority to approve the seizure or attachment of property during investigations conducted by the agency.