SRINAGAR: In a significant move, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has designated four more courts for trial of offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967.
J&K’s Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has designated four more courts- two each in Kashmir and Jammu- for trial of offences under the UAPA.
With this development, the number of courts designated under the NIA Act for trial of offences under UAPA has gone upto 11.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the court of additional district and sessions judge (fast track Court) Budgam has been designated for trial of offences under UAPA in the jurisdiction of Budgam district.
Similarly, the court of additional district and sessions judge Ganderbal has been designated for trial of offences under UAPA in Ganderbal district.
The notification further states that the additional district and sessions judge(fast track court) Doda will hear UAPA cases of Doda and Kishtwar district while the additional district and sessions judge, Poonch will have jurisdiction over UAPA cases of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
It is worthwhile to mention that Supreme Court has observed that all offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), whether investigated by the National Investigation Agency or by the investigating agencies of the State Government, are to be tried exclusively by Special Courts set up under the NIA Act.