In an attempt to tighten anti-hijacking laws in the country, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved death sentence for hijackers in keeping with the recommendations made by the civil aviation ministry.
"The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal of the civil aviation ministry to amend the Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982," I&B minister Ambika Soni said after the Cabinet meeting.
The UPA had earlier constituted a group of ministers (GoM) to look into the proposals which called for complete no-negotiation policy with hijackers. After the UPA came back to power last year, a new GoM, headed by home minister P Chidambaram, was constituted to further look into the proposals. The GoM also included law minister M Veerappa Moily, HRD minister Kapil Sibal and civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
Sections 3 and 4 of the Act, which deal with the definition of hijack and punishment for hijacking, are proposed to be amended to include death penalty. Currently, the law provides for life imprisonment and a fine as punishment.
The GoM earlier examined the proposals to amend the existing law to include these aspects as well as the conspiracy to hijack an aircraft.
The amended law will allow the Indian Air Force, when ordered by a competent authority, to intercept a hijacked aircraft and force it to land. A hostile plane can also be shot on evidence that it could be used as a missile to hit a vital installation.
The amendment also calls for immobilising a hijacked aircraft on Indian soil if it has not taken off already. A new clause will also be inserted for punishment to those who launch a conspiracy to hijack an aircraft.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Zero-tolerance-Death-penalty-for-hijackers/articleshow/5703158.cms
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