A rare joint session of India's parliament has passed tough anti-terrorism legislation that opposition lawmakers describe as "draconian." 

The legislation was passed by a voice vote. Later, the speaker granted the opposition's request to count paper ballots, and the total was 425-296. Sixty lawmakers were either absent or abstained from voting. 

The lower house of parliament last week approved the bill, known as the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), but it was rejected by the upper house, where the opposition parties are in the majority. 

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had said he was confident that the bill would be approved in the joint session - only the third such assembly since India became independent in 1947. 

The legislation allows for the detention of terrorism suspects for up to 90 days without trial. It also has provisions for cutting off funding for suspected terrorists, confiscating their property and intercepting communications. 

Elements of the legislation have been in force since earlier this year under a presidential decree, which expires next month. 

Critics say the strict provisions of the legislation infringe on basic rights. The government argues that there are enough built-in safeguards to prevent human rights abuses. 

Critics say during the most recent outbreak of sectarian riots in the Gujarat state, authorities used provisions of the bill to detain a large number of Muslims suspected of taking part in the attack on a train that triggered the riots, but not a single Hindu was arrested. 

The government says it has ordered Gujarat authorities to drop charges of terrorism in connection with the attack on the train carrying Hindu pilgrims. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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