With reference to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Amendment Act, 2019, consider the following statements:
1. The provisions of the Act extend to scheduled offenses, committed in India or abroad, that affect the interest of India.
2. It designates state high courts as special courts for conducting the trial of offenses under the NIA Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
• The various features or provisions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Amendment Act, 2019 are as follows :
o It applied the provisions of the NIA Act also to persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against Indian citizens or affect the interest of India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
o It provided that the officers of the NIA shall have similar powers, duties, privies and liabilities being exercised by the police officers in connection with the investigation of offences, not only in India but also outside India.
o It empowered the central government, with respect to a scheduled offence committed outside India, to direct the NIA to register the case and take up an investigation as if such an offence has taken place in India.
o It provided that the central government and the state governments may designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for conducting the trial of offences under the NIA Act. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
o It inserted certain new offences in the Schedule of the NIA Act.
• The Act extends to the whole of India and it applies also
o to citizens of India outside India;
o to persons in the service of the Government wherever they may be;
o to persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be; and
o to persons who commit a Scheduled Offence beyond India against an Indian citizen or affect the interest of India.