NEW DELHI, Nov 19 ? On the eve of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh?s departure to Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today announced constitution of a five-member expert committee under the chairmanship of former judge of Supreme Court, Justice Jeevan Reddy to examine the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
The Centre while constituting the panel has tried to pack it with experts and balancing the committee by picking up a retired army general, jurist, a former bureaucrat and journalist. The Expert Committee has been given six months to submit its reports to the Government of India.
The constitution of the expert panel was agreed to by the Centre as fulfilment of the assurance given by the Prime Minister to the agitating Apunba Lup. Dr Manmohan Singh had assured that the AFSPA would be reviewed and replaced with a humane Act.
In pursuance of the demands raised by the representatives of the people of Manipur, who had called on the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to constitute a five member Committee headed by a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India to have a look at the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 as amended from time to time and suggest what needs to be done, a release issued by MHA said.
Other members of the Committee included former Vice Chancellor and jurist, Dr SB Nakade, former special secreatry (MHA) PP Srivastava, former director general of military operations (DGMO), Lt. General (Retd) VR Raghavan and Sanjoy Hazarika.
Significant is that the Expert Committee would review the implementation of the Act not only in Manipur but also in States of Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre has been be-seized with demands for withdrawal of the Act in other States as well.
The Expert Panel would study in detail the AFSPA and consider whether the Act should be continued in the States or withdrawn. It would also consider whether it could be withdrawn partially or completely. The Committee has been empowered to examine the contentious clauses of the Act and whether it needed to be amended or dropped.