Anti-National Activity

Anti-National Activity

Subject – Polity

Context – ‘Anti­national’ not defined in statutes, says Centre

Concept –

• The word ‘anti-national’ has not been defined in statutes.
• The Constitution (Forty–Second Amendment) Act, 1976 inserted in the Constitution Article 31D (during Emergency) which defined ‘anti-national activity’ and this Article 31D was, subsequently, omitted by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977.
• However, there are criminal legislation and various judicial pronouncements to sternly deal with unlawful and subversive activities which are detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country.
• ‘Public Order’ and ‘Police’ are State subjects.
• The responsibility of maintaining law and order, including investigation, registration and prosecution of crimes, protection of life and property, rested primarily with the respective State government.