ON MONDAY, Lok Sabha passed the NIA Act Amendment Bill, which gives more powers to the National Investigation Agency and extends its jurisdiction beyond India’s borders. The NIA ActThe NIA Act, 2008, governs the functioning of India’s premier counterterror agency. It gives NIA extra-territorial jurisdiction; adds four more scheduled offences to the list of eight offences in the original Act; and gives powers to the government to designate sessions courts as special courts for trial of NIA cases. NIA does not have such powers,” former NIA special director N R Wasan, who had prepared the proposal for the Bill, said. With existing sessions courts allowed to function as special courts, trial can start immediately.

Source: Indian Express July 16, 2019 19:41 UTC