The Supreme Court has decided not to hear cases challenging the 2019 changes to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA. This law deals with national security and counter-terrorism. Instead, the court has told the High Courts to take on these cases.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan made this decision on Tuesday. This means that people who disagree with the UAPA amendment will have their arguments heard in the High Courts. These courts are at the state level.
The Supreme Court justices explained that they shouldn’t be the first court to hear these cases. They said it can be hard for them to sort through all the information and focus on the key issues. By sending the cases to the High Courts, the Supreme Court ensures that these courts, which are used to handling initial petitions, will review the challenges to the UAPA changes.
The UAPA is often used in cases involving national security and fighting terrorism, so it has been a topic of much discussion. The 2019 amendment made changes to the law. Because of the changes, many people filed petitions questioning whether the law is valid and how it affects individual freedoms.
Now, with the Supreme Court’s instruction, the High Courts will handle these concerns. This provides a place for detailed examination and legal arguments about the UAPA amendment. The High Courts will now be responsible for carefully reviewing the law and its impact.