The government clears the NIA

After dragging its feet for years, the UPA government finally cleared a central terror agency — christened National Investigating Agency (NIA) — and tightened the relevant laws to allow wiretaps being used as evidence, in camera trials and fast track special courts to deal with terror cases. The Union Cabinet defined the powers of the NIA at a late evening meeting. The Agency would be free to take up terror-related crimes on its own across states without getting special permission from states (law and order being a State subject). Drug trafficking and counterfeit currency have been clubbed together with terrorism as designated “scheduled crimes” that can be dealt by the NIA.The Union Cabinet also cleared significant changes to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), including setting up of fast track courts for speedy trial of terror-related cases. The Bill for setting up NIA and amendments to UAPA are expected to be moved in Parliament on Tuesday itself. The Cabinet also cleared a change in the charter of CISF to allow the para military force to provide security to individuals in what is seen as a recognition of the fact that industrialists and sports personalities also feature on the hit list of terrorists. On the whole, the Cabinet appears to have juggled the new urgency on terror post-Mumbai with its political anxiety about the potential misuse of tough laws. Consequently, while the Cabinet decided to set up NIA and amend certain provisions of the law, it did not approve a special anti-terror law or the admissibility of confessions before cops. The proposal of a special anti-terror law, hinted of by law minister H.R. Bhardwaj, did not find favour with senior ministers.