A day after the Administrative Reforms Commission asked the prime minister to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Defence Minister A K Antony stressed that the time had not come to scrap the law. “But there is always scope for improvement,” he said.
The Veerappa Moily chaired commission had recommended a middle path — repeal the law, but incorporate into existing laws the provisions sought by the army as well as safeguards for citizens.
The defence ministry has always been in favour of special powers for the army in tinderbox scenarios like the Northeast and Jamu and Kashmir.