Word 'anti-national' doesn't exist in statutes

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21

The word “anti-national” has not been defined in statutes but was first inserted in the Constitution during Emergency in 1976 and was subsequently removed a year later.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said this in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. The AIMIM MP had asked whether the government had defined the meaning of “anti-national” under any law or rules or any other legal enactment that was enforced in the country. He had also asked whether the Supreme Court had prescribed any guidelines to deal with crimes relating to “anti-national” activity.

“The word ‘anti-national’ has not been defined in statutes. However, there are criminal legislations and various judicial pronouncements to sternly deal with unlawful and subversive activities, which are detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country,” the minister said in his reply.

Rai said it was relevant to mention that the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, inserted in the Constitution Article 31D (during Emergency), which defined “anti-national activity” and this Article 31D was subsequently omitted by the Constitution (43rd Amendment) Act, 1977.