The Government of Jammu and Kashmir recently made headlines by appointing four more courts to hear cases involving violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967.
Two more courts in Kashmir and two additional courts in Jammu have been appointed by the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs of J&K to hear cases involving violations of the UAPA.
This brings the total number of courts authorised to hear cases involving violations of the UAPA defined under the NIA Act to 11.
Court of extra district and sessions judge (fast track Court) Budgam has been appointed by the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs to hear cases involving violations of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) within the boundaries of the Budgam district.
The court of the extra district and sessions judge in Ganderbal has also been assigned to hear cases involving violations of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
UAPA cases in the districts of Doda and Kishtwar will be heard by the additional district and sessions judge(fast track court), while those in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri will be heard by the additional district and sessions judge(fast track court).
It’s worth noting that the Supreme Court has ruled that only special courts established under the NIA Act can hear cases involving violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), regardless of whether the underlying investigation was conducted by the National Investigation Agency or by investigative agencies of the State government.
