India's Cabinet voted Tuesday to repeal a tough anti-terrorism law that critics said violated human rights and was often misused by authorities to punish political opponents. Cabinet spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act must be ratified by Parliament when it opens later this month. The legislature is expected to scrap the law because the Congress party-led ruling coalition has a majority in both houses. The law, passed by the previous Hindu nationalist government in Aug. 2002, gives authorities sweeping powers to detain suspects for three months without charge and to try anyone suspected of giving money, shelter or other support to terrorists. It allows for the death penalty. The law was intended mainly to fight Islamic militants in insurgency-ridden Jammu-Kashmir state and other separatists in the country's northeast. However, human rights groups have said it was used to target religious minorities. Several politicians and a journalist have also been arrested.
