48
Review of Laws, Implementation
of Treaties and Other International
Instruments of Human Rights (Section
12(d), (f) and (j) of the Protection of
Human Rights Act, 1993)
CHAPTER
5
A] Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001
5.1 Earlier in this report, an account has been provided of the efforts of the
Commission to sustain a respect for human rights in the country despite the grave
challenges posed to the country by wanton and provocative acts of terrorism.
5.2 In the course of the year imder review, it became essential for the Commission
to take a position on the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001 which was
promulgated by the President on 24 October 2001.
5.3 Given the gravity of this matter, the Opinion of the Commission dated 19
November 2001, is being reproduced in full. The Opinion reads as follows:
'The NationalHuman Rights Commission in its opinion dated 14 July, 2000
dwelt at length on the various provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism
Bill, 2000 as proposed by the Law Commission of India in its 173rd Report.
This opinion is on the web site of NHRC www.nhrc.nic.m and was also
forwarded to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. The
Commission had also earlier opposed the continuance of TADA. A letter
dated 20 February 1995 to this effect was sent by the then Chairperson to
all Members of Parliament. This letter is also included in the annual report
of the Commission for the year 1994-95 in Annexure I. The present opinion
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION