---
title: "AFSPA Jammu and Kashmir Act 1990: Powers Explained"
description: "The AFSPA (Jammu and Kashmir) Act 1990 lets armed forces shoot, arrest, and search in \"disturbed areas\" with immunity. See how it differs from the 1958 Act."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/armed-forces-special-powers-act-jk-1990"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The AFSPA (Jammu and Kashmir) Act 1990 grants armed forces deployed in areas declared "disturbed" sweeping powers to use force, arrest, and search, with statutory immunity from prosecution.
- How does the AFSPA (J\&K) Act 1990 differ from the AFSPA 1958?
- Who can declare an area 'disturbed' under the 1990 Act?
- Does Section 6 give the armed forces complete immunity?
- Is AFSPA still in force after the abrogation of Article 370?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 10 September 1990

   The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 is a Central legislation enacted by the Parliament of India on to confer extraordinary powers…

2. 31 October 2019

   Following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the State into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on , the Act continued…

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In 2012 the Supreme Court of India, ruling on the 2000 Pathribal encounter, held the Army could choose between a court-martial and a criminal trial of the accused personnel, who were ultimately not prosecuted under Section 6 of the AFSPA (J\&K) Act 1990.

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