By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 28, 2013: DURING the year 2013, the Ministry of Home Affairs  dealt with the challenges of security, law and order, disaster management, police modernisation and border management among other issues.  Important consultation  meetings with the Chief Ministers, DGPs of States/UTs on law and order and naxalities management were also held.  The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013,  launch of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), Strengthening of Unlawful activities  (Prevention)  Act, 1967 were other highlights during the year.

The Conference of Chief Ministers was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on April 15,2013 to discuss the recommendations contained in the 5th report of 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission. During the Chief Ministers' Conference on June 5, 2013, the Union Home Minister, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde, had a separate meeting with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Finance Minister of West Bengal and the Governor of Jharkhand on security related issues in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states.

The  Special Industry Initiatives “UDAAN” in J&K was also taken up during the year.  On the bilateral and multi-lateral areas, revised travel arrangements between India and Bangladesh, 33rd Asia and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA) and bilateral discussions with the Homeland Security Department of US in Washington and at New Delhi were other highlights during the year.

Strengthening of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2012 as passed by the Parliament has come into force from February 01,2013.  The Act enlarges the ambit of the “Terrorist Act” by incorporating threats/dangers to the economic security of the country and the monetary stability of India by way of production, smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency.  The law increases the period of declaration of an association as unlawful from two years to five years, criminalizes high quality counterfeiting and includes within its scope offences by companies, societies or trusts and provides for punishment to them.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013:  

A Committee headed by Justice J. S. Verma, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court was set up on 23rd December, 2012 to give recommendations on amending laws to provide for speedy justice and enhanced punishment for criminals in sexual assault cases. The Justice Verma Committee in its Report submitted on the 23rd January 2013, agreed to most of the provisions of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012. Government wanted to amend criminal laws affecting women immediately and since the Parliament was not in session, the Criminal Law (amendment) Ordinance, 2013 was promulgated on 03.02.2013. In the Budget Session, the Criminal Law [Amendment] Bill, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 19th March, 2013 and by the Rajya Sabha on 21st March, 2013. The President of India has accorded his assent to the Bill on 2nd April, 2013.

Substantive amendments in IPC, Cr. P. C and Indian Evidence Act have been made to effectively deal with the crime against women. Sentence of death has been provided as punishment in case of rape followed by death or vegetative state of the victim. For the first time acid attack, human trafficking, voyeurism, stalking etc. have been included as a specific offence and severe punishment has been prescribed. Non- treatment of victims of rape and acid attack by the hospitals (Government/ Private) has been made punishable. The police has been made accountable and disobeying of any directions of law (like not recording of FIR) has been made punishable.  Adequate provisions have been made to protect the women victim from harassment and humiliation during investigation and trial.

Modernisation of State Police Forces

The Scheme for Modernization of State Police Forces (MPF Scheme) has been extended for a further period of five years with effect from the financial year 2012-13 to 2016-17, with funding partly under Non-Plan and partly under Plan.   The items required by the State Police under mobility, weapons, equipment, training equipment, forensic equipment are funded under Non-Plan.  The construction/upgradation of police stations/outposts, police lines, police housing, forensic science laboratories and training infrastructure, construction of buildings are funded under Plan budget. 

Under the Scheme, an allocation of Rs. 8195.53 crore has been approved under Non-Plan and Rs.3750.87 crore under Plan during the XII Plan period (2012-13 – 2016-17).   In the current year, outlay for MPF Scheme is Rs.750 crore under Non-Plan and Rs.1097 crore under Plan. Mega City Policing in six cities namely, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bengaluru has been approved as a sub-set under Non-Plan component of MPF Scheme.  

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), Mission Mode Scheme was approved in 2009 with a provision of Rs 2000 Crores as a 100 % Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented during 2009-2012. This has now been extended up to 31st March, 2015.   A Pilot launch of CCTNS was launched on 4th January, 2013 which earmarked connectivity of nearly 2000 CCTNS locations in 25 States/Uts.   The implementation of the project has picked up and  contracts with System Integrators have been signed in different States/Uts.