Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):UPSC IAS
UAPA Act :UPSC IAS
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has banned separatist Yasin Malik’s Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). The move comes days after the Centre banned Jamat-e-Islami (JeI-J&K) under Section 3(1) of the UAPA.
- The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 was replaced by the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 in light of the Parliamentary attack of 2001.
- However, after instances of its abuse came to light, POTA too was repealed.
- Consequently, amendments were introduced to the existing UAPA, 1976 in the same year.
About the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.
- The UAPA, framed in 1967, has been amended twice since: first in 2008 and then in 2012.
- The Act makes it a crime to support any secessionist movement or to support claims by a foreign power to what India claims as its territory.
- Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.
- UAPA, as it exists currently, inter alia bans certain terrorist associations; punishes membership and association with such organizations; punishes terrorist activities.