The Official Secrets Act

The official secrets act of India was implemented in 1923. It has been present since the British colonial period. In a  simple definition, The official secrets act states that any action that will help the enemy, i.e., the opposition countries, plot vicious intentions against the country, will be punished. This is the primary goal of the Official secrets act. It has been present since the Britishers colonial period. There are certain sets of rules and penalties imposed on the law violators. This act also ensures that public access is not allowed near government sites like electrical substations. We’ll discuss this in detail further.

Official Secrets Act(India)

The Official Secrets Act has been present since the British colonial period. It is one of the important acts of India. The act states that any person who will be found to help an enemy nation or a person to plot against India will be punishable by law. This law even ensures that public access or trespassing  will not be allowed for the common people into an area where the Government prohibits access. This act applies to Indians residing outside of India, all India, including the Government servants. Lord Curzon implemented this.

Government Prohibitions:

  (a)  The government places where defence work is carried out, places of establishing the military, Air Force, or air station. The other government establishments include the military telephones, and the certain aircraft or airships are also the properties owned by the government; these areas are prohibited.

(b) The government might work with certain people to take over a place where very important level planning, discussions relating to national security, or war sketches will be made, which will be very important for the government-level discussions. The government does not directly own this place, but they work with certain trusted people in close association 

(c)  If the official gazette has notified a certain place or area to be under the government control, then that area also comes under this act, and any trespassing into this area will be considered a violation.

Sanctions for spying:

If a person involves in doing any of the following acts:

(a) certain areas are marked prohibited by the government, so if a person tries to enter a specific area or passes by that area, he is held countable.

(b)When a person is involved in making various plans or sketches or certain calculations that will benefit the enemy by providing the important information that can be of a national threat.

(c)If a person is involved in collecting several pieces of information which are to the national security like certain models, passwords, sketches or he is involved in providing the enemy with all the important details which can possess referred to the national security and it will help the enemy, he will be punished with imprisonment for a term which will be extended accordingly. 

Punishments and Prosecutions:

 The Punishments under this Act range from 3 to life imprisonment. A person prosecuted under the official secrets Act can also be charged with the crime even when the act committed was unintentional. It was not intended to endanger the security aspects of the state.

The Journalists have to help members of the police forces who are above the ranks of the sub-Inspector and the members of the military forces with an investigation, including revealing the source of information.

Under this Act, search warrants may be issued at any time if the magistrate finds out that, based on the specific evidence, there is more danger to the security of the Nation.

Conclusion:

This is an act that helps greatly in protecting the specific information which is of national importance, and it should be protected at any cost; this information should not be leaked to an enemy, which will make it easier for the enemy to process and may even wage war against the country. This Official Secrets Act has faced some criticism in the past, but it has been very helpful as the laws set by this help preserve important information. Since the punishments for violating the laws are very cruel, most people would not even think of doing this.