August 06,1999
New Delhi

The Union Cabinet approved on 5.8.1999 signing and ratification of the international convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1997. Under the convention unlawfully and intentionally delivering, placing, discharging or detonating an explosive device with the intent to cause death of serious bodily injury or major economic loss is an offence.

2. An important feature of the Convention is that it does not allow any political exception. The convention requires each State party to ensure that criminal acts where they are intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, are under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other similar nature and are punished by penalties consistent with their grave nature.

3. The convention is based on the principle of prosecute or Extradite. It would help strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorist bombings, which have claimed countless lives in different parts of the world. India is already party to seven important UN Conventions against Terrorism, in addition to two regional Conventions adopted by the SAARC countries. In addition, accession to some other UN Conventions against Terrorism in also under active consideration. India has also proposed a comprehensive international convention against terrorism.