The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an Indian law that was enacted in 1967 to effectively prevent unlawful activities that pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Key highlights of the UAPA

• Objective: The primary objective of the UAPA is to provide law enforcement agencies with effective tools to combat terrorism and other activities that threaten the security of the nation.
• Definition of Unlawful Activities: The act defines unlawful activities to include actions that intend to or support the cession of a part of the territory of India or disrupt the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
• Powers of Designation: The government has the authority to designate an organization as a terrorist organization if it believes that such an organization is involved in terrorism. This designation has significant legal consequences, including the freezing of assets.
• Powers of Arrest and Detention: The UAPA provides law enforcement agencies with powers of arrest and detention to prevent individuals from engaging in unlawful activities. The act allows for preventive detention to curb potential threats before they materialise.
• Banning of Terrorist Organizations: The government can proscribe organizations as terrorist organizations, making their activities illegal. This includes banning these organisations, freezing their assets, and taking other measures to curb their operations.
• Admissibility of Confessions: The UAPA allows for confessions made to police officers to be admissible in court, subject to certain safeguards. This provision has been a point of contention, with concerns about potential misuse and coercion.
• Designation of Individuals as Terrorists: In addition to organizations, the UAPA allows the government to designate individuals as terrorists. This designation carries legal consequences, including restrictions on travel and freezing of assets.
• Amendments and Stringency: Over the years, the UAPA has undergone several amendments to strengthen its provisions and make it more effective in dealing with emerging threats. However, these amendments have also been criticized for potential violations of civil liberties.
• International Cooperation: The UAPA allows for cooperation with foreign countries in matters related to the prevention of unlawful activities. This includes extradition of individuals involved in such activities.

3. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Human Rights

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and human rights lie in the impact the act can have on various fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India and international human rights standards.

The key points connecting the UAPA and human rights:

• The UAPA allows for preventive detention, which means individuals can be detained without formal charges based on suspicions of involvement in unlawful activities. This raises concerns about the right to liberty, as individuals may be deprived of their freedom without the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
• The admissibility of confessions made to police officers under the UAPA raises issues related to the right against self-incrimination. There is a risk that such confessions might be obtained under duress or coercion, compromising the fairness of legal proceedings.
• Designating individuals as terrorists and proscribing organizations without due process may impinge on the right to a fair trial. This includes the right to be informed of charges, the right to legal representation, and the right to present a defense.
• The UAPA provides authorities with the power to proscribe organizations as terrorist organizations, limiting their activities. Critics argue that this may infringe upon the right to freedom of association, particularly when such designations are made without sufficient evidence or proper legal procedures.
• The potential for misuse of the UAPA to target individuals or organizations critical of the government raises concerns about freedom of expression. If the act is used to suppress dissent or stifle legitimate political or social activities, it can undermine this fundamental right.
• The UAPA grants authorities the power to intercept communications and conduct surveillance on individuals suspected of engaging in unlawful activities. This raises concerns about the right to privacy, as individuals may be subjected to intrusive surveillance without adequate safeguards.
• Human rights standards require that any restrictions on rights, such as those imposed by the UAPA, must be proportionate and necessary for achieving a legitimate aim. Critics argue that the broad scope of the UAPA may lead to disproportionate measures that unduly restrict individual rights.
• The UAPA's compatibility with international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is a critical point of consideration. Ensuring that the act aligns with these standards is essential to upholding human rights principles.

4. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Article 22 of the Constitution

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Article 22 of the Indian Constitution lie in how the UAPA's provisions for arrest and detention intersect with the constitutional safeguards provided under Article 22. 

• Article 22 provides certain protections to individuals who are arrested or detained. It outlines the rights of arrested individuals, emphasizing safeguards to prevent arbitrary or unlawful detention.
• Article 22(1) states that every person who is arrested and detained shall be informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest. This provision ensures that individuals are aware of the reasons behind their arrest, preventing arbitrary or secret detentions.
• Article 22(1) also guarantees the right of an arrested person to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of their choice. This ensures that individuals have access to legal assistance during the legal process, contributing to a fair and just legal system.
• The UAPA includes provisions for preventive detention, allowing authorities to detain individuals to prevent them from committing certain offences. However, Article 22(4) allows preventive detention only under specific circumstances, and certain safeguards must be followed, such as providing the detenu with the grounds for detention and an opportunity to make a representation against the detention.
• Article 22(4) further mandates that a person detained under a law providing for preventive detention must be afforded the earliest opportunity to make a representation against the detention. Additionally, the case of every person detained is required to be placed before an advisory board within three months.
• The UAPA allows for confessions made to police officers to be admissible in court, subject to certain safeguards. However, this provision has been a point of concern concerning Article 22, as confessions obtained under duress or coercion may violate the right against self-incrimination.
• Article 22(2) ensures the right to be brought before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey. This provision aims to prevent prolonged detention without judicial oversight and contributes to the right to a speedy trial.

Source: The Indian Express

The Lokur Commission, officially known as the Advisory Committee on the Revision of Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, played a significant role in shaping the landscape of tribal communities in India. Established in 1965 by the Government of India. Chaired by Justice N.N. Lokur, a former Chief Justice of India. Tasked with revising the lists of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in a rational and scientific manner.

Criteria for Scheduled Tribes:

• The Commission established five key criteria for identifying a community as an ST:
  • Primitive Traits and Distinctive Culture
  • Geographical Isolation
  • Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large
  • Backwardness
  • Pre-dominantly Tribal Population

Impact on Tribal Communities

• The Lokur Commission's recommendations led to the addition of several new communities to the ST list, granting them access to educational and economic benefits reserved for STs.
• However, the criteria employed, particularly the emphasis on "primitive traits," have been criticized for being outdated, stereotypical, and potentially hindering social progress for tribal communities.

Criticisms and Debates

• The Commission's classification of certain communities as "primitive" has been challenged for being derogatory and inaccurate.
• The criteria used have been accused of being subjective and open to misinterpretation, leading to inconsistencies and exclusion of deserving communities.
• Debates continue regarding the need for revising or even abolishing the existing criteria altogether, with calls for a more nuanced approach based on social, economic, and cultural factors.

Legacy

• Despite the criticisms, the Lokur Commission's work remains influential in the administration of tribal affairs in India.
• Its report and recommendations form the basis for the current ST list and continue to be referenced in discussions about tribal inclusion and development.
• The Commission's legacy highlights the importance of ongoing discussions about the definition of "tribal" identity and the need for criteria that are fair, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving realities of tribal communities in India.

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the shape and function of red blood cells. Red blood cells are normally round and flexible, but in people with sickle cell disease, they become sickle-shaped or C-shaped. These sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow and causing pain, fatigue, and other serious health problems.

Symptoms of sickle cell disease can include:

• Painful episodes, called crises, that can last for days or even weeks
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Swelling of the hands and feet
• Anemia (a lack of red blood cells)
• Frequent infections

Types of Sickle Cell Disease

There are several different types of sickle cell disease, depending on the specific mutations in the haemoglobin gene. The most common type is sickle cell anaemia (HbSS), which occurs when a person inherits two copies of the gene mutation from each parent. Other types of sickle cell disease include sickle cell-beta thalassemia (HbSB), which occurs when a person inherits one copy of the sickle cell gene mutation and one copy of a beta-thalassemia gene mutation, and sickle cell-C disease (HbSC), which occurs when a person inherits one copy of the sickle cell gene mutation and one copy of a haemoglobin C gene mutation.

Causes of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the haemoglobin gene. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The mutation causes the haemoglobin to be misshapen, which makes the red blood cells sickle-shaped.

2.1. Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the production of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. People with thalassaemia have less haemoglobin than normal, which can lead to anaemia and other health problems.

Types of Thalassaemia

There are two main types of thalassaemia:

• Alpha thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the alpha globin chain of haemoglobin.
• Beta thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the beta globin chain of haemoglobin.

Symptoms of Thalassaemia

The severity of thalassaemia symptoms depends on the type of thalassaemia and the severity of the mutation. Symptoms of thalassaemia can include:

• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Slow growth
• Enlarged spleen

Causes of Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is made up of two globin chains, alpha and beta. Alpha thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the alpha-globin chain, while beta thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the beta-globin chain.

3. How Does the Therapy Work?

 3.1. Trial Results

• Sickle cell disease: 45 people received Casgevy. Only 29 of these patients had been in the trial long enough for the interim analysis on which the approval is based.
• All but one of these 29 trial participants had no severe pain crises for at least 12 months after treatment.
• Thalassaemia: The therapy has been administered to 54 persons with thalassaemia for the trial. Of them, 42 were in the trial long enough for the interim analysis. 3
• 9 of the 42 patients did not need a transfusion for at least 12 months after the treatment. The need for transfusion dropped by 70% in the other three.

4. Treatment Preparation and challenges

• Casgevy is a one-time treatment for which the doctor has to first collect blood stem cells from the bone marrow using a process called apheresis used to filter out the blood for different components.
• The cells are then sent to the manufacturing site where it takes about six months for them to be edited and tested.
• Before a transplant with the edited cells, the doctor gives a conditioning medicine for a few days to clear the bone marrow of other cells that will be replaced by the modified cells.
• The patient has to stay in the hospital for at least a month so that the edited cells take up residence in the bone marrow and start making red blood cells with normal haemoglobin.
• Side effects from the treatment are similar to those associated with autologous stem cell transplants, including nausea, fatigue, fever and increased risk of infection.
• While the therapy shows tremendous potential, the cost remains a significant challenge, with estimates suggesting it could be as high as $2 million per patient. 
• This poses accessibility issues, especially for individuals in poorer countries.
• However, experts believe that with more research and development, prices may decrease, and local manufacturing facilities can enhance affordability.

5. Conclusion

Casgevy's approval marks a significant milestone in Crispr-based therapy. While challenges exist, including pricing and accessibility, ongoing research and potential reductions in costs indicate a promising future for gene therapies. The working gene therapy for sickle cell disease with upcoming clinical trials in the pipeline.