West Bengal Assembly Passes Public Safety Bill with Preventive Detention Provision

PTI, June 29, 2026, Kolkata: A Bill to curb anti-social activities with a stringent provision of preventive detention for up to 12 months without trial was passed in the Assembly on Monday.

The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, was passed in the House with 176 MLAs voting in favour and 42 against it, while 20 abstained.

It is aimed at preventing riots and other forms of violence, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in the Assembly.

Explaining the rationale behind introducing the Bill, Adhikari said the existing laws do not have the provision to recover the cost for property destruction from those involved in violence, directly or otherwise.

The Bill is targeted at goondas and won't be misused in any manner, including for political purposes, the CM assured the House.

He also accused both the Trinamool Congress and CPI-M of political violence.

Adhikari said similar Bills have been introduced in other states.

"Before this is implemented, let me point out that the previous government took no action. The people of Bengal have rejected you through EVM. You have managed to form an opposition, but it is not a strong one. This Bill has already been introduced in several states under different names; Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand have implemented it," he said.

One of the Bill's most significant provisions authorises preventive detention of individuals for up to 12 months if the government believes such detention is necessary to prevent future anti-social activities.

According to the draft legislation, detention can be ordered based on a report from an officer of Superintendent of Police rank or above, or directly by the state government in specific cases.

District magistrates and Commissioners of Police may also be empowered to issue detention orders in notified areas.

Such orders will remain valid for 15 days unless ratified by the state government.