TIA NEWS /
Parliament has passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2016 with Lok Sabha approving it today. The Rajya Sabha had passed it earlier. The Bill provides for the death penalty even if ground handling staff and airport personnel are killed during such acts.
In the previous Bill, hijackers could be tried for the death penalty only in the event of death of hostages, such as flight crew, passengers and security personnel.The Bill defines hijacking as seizing control of an aircraft in service, unlawfully and intentionally, by technological means or by exercising force, coercion, or any other form of intimidation.
The Bill covers several acts within the definition of hijacking which includes attempt and abetment of hijacking, making a credible threat to commit hijacking and organizing or directing others to commit hijacking. It says, Hijacking and the related offences shall be extraditable.
Extraditable offences are those offences for which one country many transfer the accused to another country’s legal jurisdiction. No request for extradition shall be refused on the ground that hijacking is a political offence or is connected to a political offence.
The bill was moved by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in the House. Speaking on the bill, the Minister said, the legislation has been framed in line with the International convention.
Initiating the discussion, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury of Congress said, there is a need to be more vigilant for the security and safety of passengers. He also sought to know about the effectiveness of the existing crisis management system in dealing with such exigencies.Rajesh Pandey of BJP said, the legislation will be very effective in dealing with the cases of hijacking.