<p>A Parliamentary panel has suggested making hoax calls to airlines a punishable offence under the proposed Anti-Hijacking Bill.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture led by Trinamool Congress MP K D Singh, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, made the recommendation, as there is an increase in the instances of receiving such calls that trigger panic resulting in “serious complications” to passengers.<br /><br />In its meeting on January 30, the committee raised the issue of making punishment for making hoax calls. <br /><br />The Association of Private Airport Operators also appealed to the panel to add a new provision to cover the offence committed by any person by way of communication of information of hijack, which he knows is false so as to create panic.<br /><br />On the other hand, Civil Aviation Ministry informed the panel that the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982 already covers the instances of hoax calls.<br /><br /> It said the punishment for the offender is imprisonment for life and fine. However, the panel in its recommendations insisted that a new provision might be made in the Bill to cover "hoax calls" with a commensurate punishment.</p>
<p>A Parliamentary panel has suggested making hoax calls to airlines a punishable offence under the proposed Anti-Hijacking Bill.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture led by Trinamool Congress MP K D Singh, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, made the recommendation, as there is an increase in the instances of receiving such calls that trigger panic resulting in “serious complications” to passengers.<br /><br />In its meeting on January 30, the committee raised the issue of making punishment for making hoax calls. <br /><br />The Association of Private Airport Operators also appealed to the panel to add a new provision to cover the offence committed by any person by way of communication of information of hijack, which he knows is false so as to create panic.<br /><br />On the other hand, Civil Aviation Ministry informed the panel that the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982 already covers the instances of hoax calls.<br /><br /> It said the punishment for the offender is imprisonment for life and fine. However, the panel in its recommendations insisted that a new provision might be made in the Bill to cover "hoax calls" with a commensurate punishment.</p>
