Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill has been passed by Lok Sabha to promote trade security

Lok Sabha passed the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 on December 19, 2022, which aims to provide an effective legal instrument to combat piracy not only in territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) but also on the high seas.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India said in Lok Sabha, “the official amendment has provided punishment for life. Earlier, there was a provision for death. Now, the provision for death has been amended as per government amendment to punishment to death or with imprisonment for life, if such a person is committing the act of piracy and causes death or an attempt thereof." He further added that there will be a mandatory death sentence no longer seems relevant in the view of government amendment, which provides for death or life imprisonment.

The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill will permit Indian authorities to deal with piracy on the high seas, along with EEZs, which are 200 nautical miles from the country’s coastline.

India’s security and economic well-being linked to the sea and maritime security is a necessity with more than 90% of India’s trade with the rest of the world taking place through sea routes.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.