M A I N   N E W S

Ordinance to combat terrorism
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 16
The Union Cabinet tonight approved promulgation of an ordinance to combat terrorism, in place of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 1995, which was found too weak to provide a legal framework for tackling the growing menace.

The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001, was okayed by the Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence.

Other key decisions include approval of a legislation to empower the Centre to suspend the passport or travel documents for a period not exceeding four weeks if it was found that they were likely to be impounded or revoked. Another decision taken by the Cabinet pertains to release of additional Central assistance of Rs 165 crore for the construction of 100,000 houses in the flood-affected districts of Orissa. The amount will be released in two phases during the current financial year under the Indira Awas Yojana for those living below the poverty line.

It was also decided to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Companies Act to ease provisions regarding buy-back of companies’ shares subject to certain conditions. Briefing newspersons, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said the liberalisation of conditions on buy-back shares was expected to help improve market conditions.

The Centre also made up its mind to wind up Delhi-based Super Bazar, which is running into losses, and gave a nod to a minimum compensation of Rs 42.20 crore under the Act. The Super Bazar will be closed under the provisions of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act.

Mr Mahajan said the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance defining terrorist outfits would make non-disclosure of information relating to terrorist acts an offence.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill was intended to replace the infamous TADA Act. It was introduced in the Rajya Sabha but could not be passed. It was examined by an inter-ministerial group which found it too weak to combat terrorism. The Cabinet has decided to withdraw it from the Rajya Sabha.

The Cabinet also decided to continue with the policy of finalising import contracts through the centralised shipping arrangements.