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A bill has been tabled in the West Bengal Assembly, dubbed the Anti-Goonda bill, which contains stringent provisions like preventive detention up to a year without trial and more.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led government has tabled a stringent bill to curb anti-social activities with stringent provisions. (Representational image)
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Monday tabled the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, also being called the ‘Anti-Goonda’ bill. The stringent bill includes provisions like preventive detention for up to a year without any trial in a court of law.
Further, the arrested individuals can also be prevented from accessing the services of a lawyer. As per reports, the properties of an accused can also auctioned under this law.
While introducing the bill in the Assembly, Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari, reportedly, said that existing legislations in the state are inadequate in tackling organised crime. The bill aims to prevent crime from happening more than it seeks to punish.
If passed, the state could, according to media reports, tag any person who habitually engages in ‘anti-social activities’, leads or promotes a criminal syndicate, or even if is a history sheeter. The bill provides for the detention declared ‘goondas’ for up to a year without trial if the state deems such action necessary to prevent any future ‘anti-social activity’.
District Magistrates and Police Commissioners, in notified areas, can detain a person for fifteen days without approval from the government. Upon such detention being approved, the detained individual can be held for up to a year.
There is a provision of informing the detained individual the grounds of his or her detention. However, if the state deems it necessary for public safety, it may withhold even that information.
Within three weeks, an advisory board will be formed to undertake the scrutiny of such detention. This board will comprise of a chairperson and two other members.
The chairperson should either a sitting or a retired judge. While the other two members must be individuals eligible to be High Court judges.
In 2021, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government amended the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, 1970. This had made the Act more stringent.
Under this amendment, the police leadership in districts were given more leeway in the enforcement of the act. The range of crimes that could be included in this act for enforcement was widened.
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