Passage 1
Claiming that the existing anti-terror laws are insufficient, the Maharashtra government last week tabled the Special Public Security Bill, 2024, to tackle “urban Naxalism.” The Bill empowers the state to criminalise “unlawful activity” by individuals and prescribes stringent punishments against organisations it deems unlawful. While this is precisely the remit of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1976, the principle anti-terror legislation, the framers of the Maharashtra Bill deem it inadequate. While the processes are the same as UAPA, the Bill expands its definition of unlawful activity, bringing under its ambit everything from “being a menace to public order” and “interfering with administration of law,” to “generating fear and apprehension in public” and “preaching disobedience of law.” These descriptions are so loosely worded and vague that they could include legitimate dissent, protest or even mere criticism of the government. This is why Maharashtra’s new legislation is disquieting.
The proposed law brings “urban Naxals,” the term that has a political provenance, and one that has been used, controversially, to target students, writers, activists, into the legal vocabulary. In its Statement of Objects and Reasons, the Bill says that the “menace of Naxalism is not limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected states but its presence is increasing in the urban areas.” Its wide provisions seek to equate it with anything that raises questions about the government. It is alarming that a bill that empowers the government to evict the accused from premises and seize bank accounts even before a trial can begin, does not make vital distinctions, like between an active member of an organisation and someone associated with it. The courts have consistently called for a higher bar for the state to invoke stringent laws. The Delhi High Court, in the 2019 Delhi riots case, said that “the more stringent a penal provision, the more strictly it must be construed”. “The extent and reach of terrorist activity must travel beyond the effect of an ordinary crime and must not arise merely by causing disturbance of law and order or even public order; and must be such that it travels beyond the capacity of the ordinary law enforcement agencies to deal with it under the ordinary penal law,” the HC said. In the 2019 Bhima Koregaon cases, the SC has in the last two years granted bail to several accused. The “mere possession of the literature, even if the content thereof inspires or propagates violence, by itself cannot constitute any of the offences within Chapters IV and VI of the 1967 (UAPA) Act…”, the SC said. The Maharashtra Bill threatens to undercut the constitutional pact between the state and the citizen that protects, not just permits, dissent and debate. A day after the Bill was tabled, the monsoon session of the assembly was prorogued. Given that the state goes to polls in November, the Bill has effectively lapsed. The proposed law must not be revived.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/maharashtras-public-secur
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Passage 2
The final ‘Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure’ by ‘India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Development’ was released in New Delhi, today. The Task Force was led by the Co-Chairs — [1] , G20 Sherpa of India and Shri Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys and the Founding Chairman of UIDAI (Aadhaar). The work of this Task Force had led to the acceptance of the definition and framework of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) during India’s G20 Presidency and will be taken forward for implementation during the Brazilian and South African Presidencies. After a very successful G20 Presidency and upon the culmination of its tenure, the Report of the Task Force is aimed at strengthening the foundations of DPI worldwide. On the occasion of releasing the report, [1] , G20 Sherpa of India, said, “India did an incredible pole vault in Digital Public Infrastructure. We achieved in 9 years what would have taken 50 years without DPI. Today in India, UPI is used at all levels from street vendors to large shopping malls, with the highest percentage of digital transactions globally, accounting for nearly 46% share. All these proved to be building blocks for India to steer through the COVID-19 pandemic, be it transfer $4.5 billion into the bank accounts of 160 million beneficiaries or facilitate distribution of 2.5 million vaccinations in two years with digital vaccine certificates on mobiles. We are far advanced in terms of digitisation and I am confident, this report will be the guiding North Star for the world to follow.” On the occasion, Co-Chair of Task Force, Shri Nandan Nilekani, said, “Governments and businesses around the world are increasingly realising that if they really want to achieve SDGs and social goals like inclusive growth, it has to have underlying DPI to make that happen. DPI has the power to dramatically improve the lives of citizens and transform governance. It has happened here in India and it started with the Aadhaar ID system, aimed at providing a digital identity to every Indian. Now, around 1.3 billion Indians possess this digital ID and on average 10 million eKYC per day is being facilitated through Aadhar. Meanwhile in payment, UPI facilitates 13 billion transactions monthly, serving about 350 million individuals and 50 million merchants and DPI enabled direct transfer has saved Government $41 billion across Central Government Schemes. Therefore, it’s no longer a choice or a luxury, DPI is essential to get to where we want. This Report will play a key role in defining the future course of DPI approach and actions around the globe.” India’s G20 Presidency provided a significant opportunity to set and drive the global policy discourse on key economic and developmental agenda. One of the critical enablers for the development and empowerment of people is technological innovations and technology-led economic transformation. India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) – digital identity, fast payment system along with consent-based data sharing – has demonstrated how 1.4 billion individuals can access socio-economically important services in the field of finance, health, education, e-Governance, taxation, skills etc.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?
