Vidhi Codex

The Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016

The Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016

Defence201621 sections3 chapters

The Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, regulates aircraft hijacking, establishing strict laws against threats, attempts, hostage taking, and conspiracies to seize control of civil flights. It applies to any person, regardless of their nationality, who commits these offences inside India, on Indian registered aircraft, or on flights that land in Indian territory. This legislation matters because it updates national safety laws to align with international treaties, enabling swift investigations and fast trials. Crucially, the law deters aviation terrorism by imposing severe punishments, including life imprisonment, total confiscation of personal property, and the death penalty if any hostage, security officer, or passenger dies.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent, application and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II HIJACKING AND CONNECTED OFFENCES →

  1. 3Hijacking.
  2. 4Punishment for hijacking.
  3. 5Punishment for acts of violence connected with hijacking.
  4. 6Conferment of powers of investigations, etc.
  5. 7Jurisdiction.
  6. 8Designated Court
  7. 9Offences triable by Designated Court

Chapter III MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 10Application of Code to proceedings before Designated Court
  2. 11Provisions as to extradition
  3. 12Provision as to bail
  4. 13Contracting parties to Convention
  5. 14Power to treat certain aircraft to be registered in Convention countries
  6. 15Previous sanction necessary for prosecution
  7. 16Presumption as to offences under sections 3 and 5
  8. 17Protection of action taken in good faith.
  9. 18Powers of investigating officers to seize or attach property.
  10. 19Confiscation and forfeiture of property.
  11. 20General power to make rules.
  12. 21Repeal and savings.

PDF: pending for this language.