Rajya Sabha passes Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022 by voice vote

Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for prevention of maritime piracy and stringent punishment to those convicted of such crimes.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2022 by voice vote on Wednesday. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Moving the bill for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it has provisions for the prevention of maritime piracy, will strengthen India's maritime security and give it an effective legal instrument to combat the menace.

The bill will also enable the country fulfil its international obligations and improve India's standing at global forums.

"Ensuring maritime security is key to safeguard India's security and economic wellbeing," he said.

The minister said that between 2008 and 2011, there have been 27 maritime incidents in which 288 Indian nationals were involved.

Between 2014 and 2022, there were 19 piracy cases in which 155 Indian crew members were involved and the numbers show why the country needs this bill so badly, he stated.

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The bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Standing Committee on External Affairs for examination.

Jaishankar said the ministry had held several rounds of extensive inter-ministerial consultations with the departments concerned to incorporate the recommendations of the Standing Committee.

Out of 18 recommendations of the Standing Committee, 14 have been incorporated suitably in the bill, he said, adding that three recommendations were only observations which too have been duly noted.

"The bill addresses the issue of death penalty as an exceptional case and the quantum of punishment envisaged are in line with the gravity of offences," the minister said.

In the absence of a specific law or a legal provision in the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure on piracy, he said, this bill would provide an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy.