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Official Secrets Act, 1923
Context
Punjab Police’s Special Operation Cell has arrested Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal, a YouTuber from Rupnagar district, for alleged espionage on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a terror-backed espionage network operating through digital platforms.
Official Secrets Act, 1923
Background:
- Enacted during the British colonial period to protect state security.
- Aims to counter espionage, sedition, and threats to national integrity.
Purpose:
- Prevent spying and unauthorized disclosure of official secrets.
- Prohibit entry into restricted/prohibited areas related to defence or sensitive government matters.
- Prevent interference with police or armed forces in sensitive zones.
- Penalize unauthorized use of official uniforms or falsification of official documents.
Key Offences:
- Approaching or entering prohibited places.
- Making or possessing sketches, plans, or notes useful to an enemy.
- Wrongful communication or publication of secret official codes or information.
- Harboring spies or communicating with foreign agents.
- Unauthorized use of uniforms and falsification of reports.
- Interference with police or armed forces near prohibited places.
Penalties:
- Imprisonment up to 14 years if offences relate to defence, naval, military, or air force establishments.
- Up to 3 years imprisonment for other cases.
Important Sections:
- Section 3: Prohibits prejudicial acts such as spying, communication of secret info, entry into restricted places.
- Section 4: Communication with foreign agents considered evidence of offences.
- Section 5: Wrongful communication of information.
- Section 6: Unauthorized use of uniforms, forgery, false documents.
- Section 7: Interference with police or armed forces.
- Section 8: Duty to report offences.
- Section 9: Attempts or incitements to commit offences.
- Section 10: Punishment for harboring spies.
- Section 15: Liability of companies committing offences.
Relevance:
- Remains vital for safeguarding India's sovereignty and security.
- Used in cases related to espionage, leaks of sensitive defence information, and national security breaches.
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