The Armed Forces (Punjab and Chandigarh) Special Powers Act, 1983

The Armed Forces (Punjab and Chandigarh) Special Powers Act, 1983 was enacted to provide special powers to the armed forces in the state of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to maintain public order. The act gives the armed forces the power to arrest without a warrant, to use force, and to carry out searches in order to maintain public order. It also provides immunity from prosecution for actions taken under the Act. The Act was enacted in response to a rise in militant activities in the state of Punjab in the 1980s.