Srinagar: In a move aimed at speedy trial of militancy-related cases in Jammu & Kashmir, the administration of Union Territory on Thursday constituted six special courts of trial of offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act -1967 in Kashmir Valley.
The Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs today notified six courts as special courts for the trial of offences under the UAPA in 10 districts of Kashmir Valley where only three courts were designated so far for such cases.
The notification has been issued under the powers vested with the Union Territory administration under the National Investigation Act- 2008.
Under section 22 of the NIA Act, the State Government is empowered to constitute one or more Special Courts for the trial of offences under any or all the enactments specified in the schedule.
The UAPA is among the laws specified in the schedule of the NIA Act.
In a notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs today designated the court of additional sessions judge (TADA/POTA) Srinagar for the trial of offences of Srinagar and Ganderbal district, additional district and sessions judge, Anantnag for district Anantnag, additional district and sessions judge, Baramulla for district Baramulla, additional district and sessions judge, Pulwama for districts Pulwama and Budgam, additional district and sessions judge (fast track court) Kulgam for districts Kulgam and Shopian and additional district and sessions judge, Bandipora for districts Bandipora and Kupwara.
Before this notification, only three special courts were functioning for trial of offences under the UAPA in Kashmir. These courts were notified on February 25, 2020.
On March 1, 2019, the government had for the first time notified special courts for the trial of offences under the UAPA.
Then it designated the court of additional district and sessions judge (TADA/POTA) Srinagar and 3rd additional district and sessions judge (TADA/POTA) as special courts for Kashmir and Jammu provinces respectively for the purpose of trial of offences under the UAPA-1967.
The move comes at a time when the Government of India has asked the J&K police to focus on the prosecution and trial of the accused under the UAPA—(KNO)
