UPCOCA bill to be sent for Presidential assent

Lucknow, Mar 27: Playing down the issue of sending of the controversial Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (UPCOCA) to the President by governor T V Rajeswar, the Rajbhawan clarified that the Bill is being sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan on the recommendation of the state government.

''The governor is expected to send the bill for Presidential assent as it involves the existing provisions of the CrPC and various central Acts Like Indian Penal Code and the Evidence Act'', Rajbhawan sources told to the sources here today.

The much-touted law , which had been under sharp attack from the opposition parties specially Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party alleging it was targetted towards the political opponents, was recently passed in the lower house of the state legislature.

The bill also seeks to enhance punishment for certain offences after previous convictions. Mayawati government had contended that the new law would put a pressure on the organised crime in the state.Raj Bhawan sources said the Presidential assent had to be sought under certain provisions of the Constitution which said that such assent was neded if the law required involvement of the central laws.

On November 5, 2007, the assembly had passed the bill and again for the second time last month when the legislative council did not approve it.

The UPCOCA has been designed on the lines of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, giving additional powers to the state to curb organised crime.

While introducing the Bill on October 31, 2007, Chief Minister Mayawati had said the proposed legislation would primarily deal with contract killers, kidnappers, gun-totting contractors, hawala traders, enemies of economic structure, fake drug traffickers and liquor mafiosi.

UNI