-PTI The entire state of Assam has been declared as a disturbed area under the controversial AFSPA for three more months. The Centre has declared the entire Assam as a "disturbed" area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act -- the AFSPA -- for three more months, citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others. In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Centre made a forceful attempt on Wednesday for dilution of the Supreme Court's earlier judgment making registration of FIRs mandatory for encounter deaths during counter-insurgency operations by armed forces, even in disturbed areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In an order on July 8, 2016, the SC had negated the protection against prosecution available to armed forces personnel under AFSPA. "If the...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Centre today approached the Supreme Court seeking recall of two orders directing a probe into all cases of alleged excessive use of force under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act during counter-insurgency operations in Manipur. Attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi urged a bench headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar for urgent listing of an "open court" hearing of the curative petition challenging the July 8, 2016, judgment of the...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Supreme Court had recently said security forces had no inherent right to shoot people, which suggests that yesterday's killing of the eight Simi operatives by Madhya Pradesh police went against that ruling. The court had held that even if a person was seen carrying weapons in a "disturbed" area, it did not automatically give the security forces the right to shoot him. Even the army had no blanket...

-The Hindu “Accountability is a facet of the rule of law.” This established legal principle has acquired fresh significance after the Supreme Court ruled that the armed forces cannot escape investigation for excesses in the course of the discharge of their duty even in “disturbed areas”. In such notified areas, security personnel enjoy statutory protection for their use of “special powers”. While hearing petitions demanding an inquiry into 1,528 deaths in...