AFSPA Extended in Nagaland, Arunachal, and Manipur
Why focus: AFSPA extension in NE — core GS2/GS3 overlap, tests statutory provisions of 'disturbed area' declaration & Ministry of Home Affairs powers.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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Notification Authority: BEFORE: State governments typically notified 'disturbed areas' for local law and order. NOW: The Ministry of Home Affairs (Centre) increasingly assumes the role of issuing the Section 3 notification, as seen in the recent Manipur extensions.
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Manipur Exclusions: BEFORE: In early 2023, AFSPA was lifted from 19 police stations in the Imphal Valley due to improved peace. NOW: Due to protracted ethnic violence, the exclusion zone shrank back to 13 police stations, returning areas like Jiribam under military jurisdiction.
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Arunachal Pradesh Footprint: BEFORE: The Act previously covered larger swathes of the state. NOW: It is strictly confined to the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding (TCL) districts and specific police stations in Namsai bordering Assam.
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Nagaland Footprint: BEFORE: The entire state was classified as a disturbed area for decades. NOW: The notification is highly granular, targeting 8 specific districts and only 21 police stations across 5 other districts.
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Review Cycle Rigidity: BEFORE: Extensions were often routine and indefinite. NOW: Following the 1997 Supreme Court ruling in the Naga People's Movement of Human Rights case, the status must strictly be reviewed and gazetted every six months, establishing a biannual April-October rhythm.
What Did NOT Change
Despite the recommendations of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005) and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission to repeal AFSPA, the core framework of the Act remains intact. Section 4, granting the power to use lethal force and arrest without a warrant, and Section 6, providing immunity from prosecution without prior Central sanction, were not altered or diluted.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Common Misconceptions
✗ AFSPA can only be invoked by the Central Government.
✓ Under Section 3 of the Act, both the Central Government and the Governor of the State possess concurrent powers to declare an area as 'disturbed'.
Recent high-profile extensions in Manipur and Nagaland have been gazetted directly by the Ministry of Home Affairs, overshadowing the state authorities' constitutional powers.
✗ Armed forces personnel have absolute immunity from prosecution under AFSPA.
✓ In the 2016 EEVFAM vs Union of India case, the Supreme Court ruled that there is no absolute immunity for extrajudicial killings, and every death caused by the armed forces requires a thorough inquiry.
Section 6 of AFSPA requires prior Central Government sanction for prosecution, which is rarely granted, creating a public perception of absolute legal immunity.
Practice Questions
Q1
How Many CorrectConsider the following statements regarding the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958: 1. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended the complete repeal of AFSPA and the insertion of its essential provisions into the UAPA. 2. Under Section 3 of AFSPA, only the Ministry of Home Affairs has the authority to declare an area as a 'disturbed area'. 3. The Supreme Court, in the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM) case, ruled that armed forces personnel cannot be investigated for actions taken under AFSPA. How many of the above statements are correct?
Q2
Match the FollowingMatch List I (Committees / Judgments) with List II (Key Associations related to AFSPA) and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I: A. Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee B. EEVFAM vs Union of India (2016) C. Second Administrative Reforms Commission D. Justice Santosh Hegde Commission List II: 1. Ruled against absolute immunity for armed forces personnel 2. Investigated cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur 3. Recommended repeal of AFSPA in 2005 4. Headed by Veerappa Moily, echoed the call for AFSPA repeal
Q3
Assertion & ReasonAssertion (A): Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 requires prior sanction from the Central Government to prosecute armed forces personnel. Reason (R): The Supreme Court has declared that armed forces operating in disturbed areas enjoy absolute immunity to effectively maintain public order without fear of legal reprisal. Select the correct answer: