A key government-appointed commission felt that the existing laws were not enough to deal with terrorism and recommended a comprehensive anti-terrorist legislation. The second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in its 185-page eighth report ‘Combating Terrorism,’ released on September 16 stated that a “comprehensive and effective legal framework to deal with all aspects of terrorism needs to be enacted." The Commission’s chairman M. Veerappa Moily called for the incorporation of a legal provision as a separate chapter in the National Security Act, 1980 to deal more effectively with terrorism. The Commission also suggested that no person accused of an offence punishable under NSA should be released on bail.

Suggesting the formation of a federal agency to investigate terrorist offences, the report called for a specialised division within the CBI to deal with terror cases. It called for professionally competent personnel who had proven integrity to be recruited for this special division. The Commission also recommended that special fast track courts should be set up exclusive for trial of terrorism-related cases. The Commission felt that there was a need to define ‘more clearly’ criminal acts which can be construed as being terrorist in nature. Taking a strong view of the issue of terror financing, the panel recommended suitable amendments in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to widen its scope and outreach1.

• 1. “Not enough laws to deal with terror: Moily Panel,” Daily Excelsior, September 17, 2008, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/08sep17/news.htm#2