Chhattisgarh Moves SC Seeking to Declare NIA Act Unconstitutional

New Delhi: In a first-ever step, the Congress-led Chhattisgarh government approached Supreme Court seeking to declare unconstitutional the 2008 National Investigative Agency (NIA) Act.  

The Chhattisgarh government argued that NIA Act takes away powers of search and seizure from local police, and confers "unfettered, discretionary and arbitrary powers" on the Centre.

The NIA Act, 2008 sought to constitute the NIA to investigate and prosecute people for offences affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of state, and friendly relations with foreign states, among others.

The move comes in the wake of the Kerala government’s challenging of the Citizenship Amendment Act under Article 131 of the Constitution.