On December 26, 2021, for the first time since the present government came to power in 2014, the Union Home Ministry constituted a panel led by its officers to review the withdrawal of the Armed areas. The Act was amended in 1972 and the powers to declare an area as “disturbed” were conferred concurrently upon the Central Government along with the States. Currently, the MHA issues periodic “disturbed area” notification to extend AFSPA only for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where it is applicable in the districts of Tirap, Changlang, Longding and areas falling under Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations bordering Assam. The notification for Manipur and Assam is issued by the State Governments. Tripura revoked the Act in 2015 and Meghalaya was under AFSPA for 27 years, until it was revoked by the MHA from April 1, 2018. The Act was implemented in a 20-km area along the border with Assam. Jammu and Kashmir has a separate J&K Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1990.
In 2005, a government-appointed five-member committee, recommended that AFSPA be repealed. It suggested that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act could be suitably amended to deal with terrorism. It made this recommendation as it felt that the AFSPA created an impression that the people of the Northeast States were being targeted for hostile treatment. Who headed this committee?
Correct Answer :
b. P. Jeevan reddy
Solution :
Correct Answer: b. P. Jeevan reddy
Detailed Explanation:
In November 2004, the Central Government set up a five-member committee headed by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court, to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, particularly in the context of the Northeastern region.
The committee submitted its report in June 2005. Key recommendations and observations of the Jeevan Reddy Committee included:
1. Repeal of AFSPA: The committee strongly recommended that AFSPA should be repealed, noting that the Act had become a symbol of oppression and created an impression that people in the Northeast were being targeted for hostile treatment.
2. Amendment of UAPA: Instead of AFSPA, the committee suggested amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, to insert specific provisions for dealing with terrorism and insurgencies while building in safeguards to protect human rights.
Therefore, the five-member committee appointed in 2005 that recommended repealing AFSPA was headed by Justice P. Jeevan Reddy.
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