National Security Act - INDIAN EXPRESS-28-01-2020

What is NSA?

The National Security Act of 1980 is an act of the Indian Parliament promulgated on 23 September, 1980 whose purpose is "to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith". The act extends to the whole of India. It Contains 18 sections.

What is the Act about?

The NSA act empowers the Central Government and State Governments to detain a person to prevent him/her from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of India, the relations of India with foreign countries, the maintenance of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary so to do. The act also gives power to the governments to detain a foreigner in a view to regulate his presence or expel from the country. The act was passed in 1980 during the Indira Gandhi Government.

Why in News?

• Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has issued an order giving the Police Commissioner the power to detain individuals under the tough National Security Act (NSA), 1980.

About:

• The National Security Act was promulgated on September 23, 1980, during the Indira Gandhi government and its purpose is “to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith”. It applies to the entirety of India, except Jammu and Kashmir.

Key provisions:

• As per the National Security Act, the grounds for preventive detention of a person include:

• Acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India.

• Regulating the continued presence of any foreigner in India or with a view to making arrangements for his expulsion from India.

• To preventing them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary so to do.