Anti-Hijacking Bill | Beijing Protocol

Why in news?

• Moving to give more teeth to the law against hijacking of aircraft, the Union Cabinet approved major amendments to the Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014, which it plans to re-introduce in Parliament shortly. 

About the Bill:

• The amendments essentially enlarge the definition of “hijacking” and “hijacker” as well as punishment. 
• Definition:  
• An airpcraft would be considered to be in-service from the time it is being prepared for a specific flight by the crew or ground personnel until 24 hours after any landing 
• hijacker would include a person who organises or directs others to commit hijacking, who participates in a hijacking as an accomplice and who assists any person to evade investigation, prosecution and punishment in a hijacking case

• perpetrators of a hijacking shall be punishable with the death penalty in case such an offence results in the death of any person — including ground handling staff and airport personnel — or with life imprisonment or fine. 
• The amendments also seek to enhance the jurisdiction Indian courts can exercise in a hijacking case

Beijing Protocol: 

• brought out new principal offences in hijacking. 
• combined with ancillary offences, 
• enlarged the scope of hijacking, 
• expanded jurisdiction and 
• strengthened extradition and mutual assistance regimes in case hijacking.
• India has also given its approval to ratify Beijing Protocol, 2010 of the UN body International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to which India is a signatory.