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Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for prevention of maritime piracy and stringent punishment to those convicted of such crimes.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2022 by voice vote on Wednesday. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Moving the bill for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it has provisions for the prevention of maritime piracy, will strengthen India’s maritime security and give it an effective legal instrument to combat the menace.
The bill will also enable the country fulfil its international obligations and improve India’s standing at global forums.
« Ensuring maritime security is key to safeguard India’s security and economic wellbeing, » he said.
The bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Standing Committee on External Affairs for examination.
Jaishankar said the ministry had held several rounds of extensive inter-ministerial consultations with the departments concerned to incorporate the recommendations of the Standing Committee.
Out of 18 recommendations of the Standing Committee, 14 have been incorporated suitably in the bill, he said, adding that three recommendations were only observations which too have been duly noted.
« The bill addresses the issue of death penalty as an exceptional case and the quantum of punishment envisaged are in line with the gravity of offences, » the minister said.
