Parliament approved anti-hijacking bill providing for death penalty

The parliament approved the Anti-Hijacking Bill that award death penalty to the criminals in case of death of hostages or security personnel

About the Bill:

Initially Life imprisonment or confiscation of Movable and immovable property as punishment to the Accused

• Introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on December 17, 2014
• Approved by the upper house of the parliament on May 5
• Later the minister explained that the definition of “hijack” has been enlarged and penalties improved

Amendment to the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982 :

Death penalty for the hijackers only in the event of death of the hostages

Causes for improving penalties:

• Hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 on December 24, 1999
• The use of planes to hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States on 9/11

Features of New Law:

• Central government award powers of investigation, arrest and prosecution on any officer of the central government or the National Investigation Agency
• Offenders cannot be released on bail or bond unless among other things
• In case the investigation is carried out by the National Investigation Agency, the designated court shall be a court set up under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008