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Polity & Governance
Mahesh

22/12/22 21:24 PM IST

Anti-piracy bill

In News
  • Parliament recently passed a bill which provides for prevention of maritime piracy and stringent punishment to those convicted of such crimes.
Key Features
  • The Bill enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy in the high seas. The Bill brings into law the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It applies to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), i.e., beyond 200 nautical miles from India’s coastline.
  • The Bill defines piracy as any illegal act of violence, detention or destruction against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft.
  • Piracy also includes inciting and intentionally facilitating such acts of violence, and voluntarily participating in the operation of a pirate ship or aircraft.
  • Committing an act of piracy will be punishable with: (i) life imprisonment; or (ii) death, if the act of piracy causes or seeks to cause death.
  • Participating, organising, aiding, supporting, attempting to commit, and directing others to participate in an act of piracy will be punishable with up to 14 years of imprisonment, and a fine.
  • The Bill provides for imprisonment of up to 14 years if a person participates in an act of piracy. Committing an act of piracy (which includes voluntarily participating in the operation of a pirate ship or aircraft) is punishable with life imprisonment.
UNCLOS
  • The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines piracy to include any acts of violence, detention or destruction committed for private ends against persons or property on board a ship on the high seas or outside the jurisdiction of any state.
  • Acts of piracy threaten maritime security by endangering the welfare of people travelling by sea and the security of navigation and commerce.
  • These acts may result in the loss of life, physical harm, hostage-taking, disruptions to commerce and navigation, and financial losses to ship-owners.
Definition of Piracy
  • The Bill defines piracy as any illegal act of violence, detention, or destruction committed against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft.
  • Such acts may be carried out in the high seas (beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of India) or any place outside the jurisdiction of India.
  • Inciting or intentionally facilitating such acts would also qualify as piracy.
  • It includes any other act that is considered as piratical under international law.
Source- Indian Express

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