The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill was was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, and passed by the Lower House on Monday.
The Bill enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy in the high seas. It brings into law the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and applies to the seas beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.
It 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. The definition 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 life imprisonment, or death, if the act of piracy causes or seeks to cause death.
The Supreme Court has held in judgments that mandatory death penalty for any offence is unconstitutional as it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Source: Barandbench
