Question

With reference to the AFSPA (Armed Forces special Powers Act), consider the following statements.
1. The justice Jeevan Reddy Committee was set up in 2005 to review AFSPA.
2. Only the Central Government declares a region as a ‘Disturbed’ under the Act.
Select the INCORRECT statement.

• A. Only 1
• B. Only 2
• C. Both 1 and 2
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Only 2

Explanation: The justice Jeevan Reddy Committee was set up in 2005 to review Afspa and make recommendations. It recommended that Afspa should be repealed and the Unlawful Activities Protection Act strengthened to fight militancy. However, no steps were taken to repeal or reform the act.
Section (3) of the Afspa empowers the governor of the state or Union territory to issue an official notification in The Gazette of India, following which the Centre has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid. Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.” The state or central government considers those areas as ‘disturbed’ “by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.