JAMMU:
The State Government today cleared that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has not been revoked but very much remains in force in the State.
“There is a confusion appearing over imposition of Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA in the State which is needed to be cleared,” J&K Secretary Home B R Sharma told reporters here.
“While the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997, has ceased to exist with effect from October 7, 1998 in the State, the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990, continues to remain in force in the State and the presently notified disturbed areas in the State have been declared so under this Act,” said Mr Sharma.
He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, a State Act, enforced here in 1990, gave powers to Magistrates and Police officers, not below the rank of Inspector or Sub-Inspector in case of the Armed branch of the Police, to deal with militancy effectively in areas to be notified as ‘Disturbed Areas’ under the provisions of this Act.
The Act of 1990 came to be replaced by the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1992, which, in turn, was substituted by the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997, and came into force on October 8, 1997, he added.
He added that Section 1(4) of the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997, provided that the Act would remain in force for a period of one year from the date of its commencement, adding that the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1997, ceased to be in force with effect from October 7, 1998. (AGENCIES)
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