NAC seeks public opinion on Communal Violence Bill

The National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has given its approval in the much awaited Communal Violence Bill.

The draft of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill has now been placed in the public domain for comments.

The revised bill will enable the centre to intervene in cases of communal or targeted violence.

It permits the central government to declare any case of communal violence as 'internal disturbance' within the ambit of Article 355 of the Constitution and take actions, media reported.

Article 355 states, "It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance and ensure the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution."

The draft bill proposes to set up a National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation and State Authorities for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation. The National Authority will have powers to direct the state authorities to conduct an inquiry in the state.

Members for this Authority are to be selected by the PM, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Home Minister and a member each of all recognized national parties.

Further, the bill also suggests that collection of evidence relating to an offence under this Act shall include videographing and or photographing of the scene of crime and the same shall form a part of the report of the case.

The definition of communal and sectarian violence will cover isolated incidents as well as mass crimes, against people based on religious, caste, linguistic, regional and other identities.

The NAC has invited suggestions on the draft bill by June 4.