New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday said that India, being a secular state, could not allow terrorist acts rooted in religious fanaticism and they could only be combated through better governance and efficient law enforcement to fight the "plague of terrorism".
"India being a secular State, such religious fanaticism which resulted in such terrorist acts should not be allowed to destroy the very basic structure of our Constitution. Unless every one of us put our sincere efforts to fight terrorism, we will not be able to curb this menace," the court said.
"Terrorism is a major problem that is reoccurring over the globe in many different forms. In short, terrorism is a plague for a nation or society that should be eradicated," said a bench of Justice P.Sathasivam and Justice B.S.Chauhan in their main judgment on cross appeals by the convicted accused and Maharashtra government in 1993 Mumbai blast case.
"There is a dire need to best deal with it (terrorism) and to make sure to take preventive actions so that other groups and people are not motivated to make themselves heard through various acts of terrorism," the court said by way of caution to the government.
The court outlined the steps that had to be taken in dealing with the situation. The prescription offered by the apex court suggested better governance and law enforcement; long- term as well as short-term strategies to combat terrorism; and more advanced technologies for communication among law enforcement agencies.
The orders included long-term planning and sustained multi-dimensional action; proper coordination between all the agencies with high level of motivation and a quick response system must be established to tackle the menace immediately.
It also said the rule of law must always be upheld and it is the duty of the constitutional authority to defend the life and limb of its subjects.
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