Maharashtra assembly passes Public Security Bill

The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Thursday passed the `Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill', which seeks to prevent unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organisations with focus on urban Naxalism and "passive militancy". While tabling the bill, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis -- who holds the Home portfolio -- said the government was not against the Leftist ideology or organisations, and did not intend to suppress dissent. Fadnavis noted that similar laws exist in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand, under which 48 organizations have been banned. He emphasized that the application of the law will be guided by Supreme Court rulings. The Chief Minister assured the House that the law will not be misused under any circumstances. Maharashtra will be the fifth state to enact a special public security law to curb `urban Naxalism'. Opposition parties had raised objections on some aspects of the bill, including what they claimed was an expansive interpretation of the term "urban Naxal". The bill is yet to be tabled in the legislative council. 

While tabling the bill, Fadnavis said more than 12,500 suggestions received from the public were taken into consideration while preparing its final draft. The bill includes provisions for an 'Advisory Board', which will be headed by the Chief Justice of the High court or a retired chief justice. Members of the board will be district magistrates or high court government pleaders, while the investigating officer in cases registered under the law will be of the rank of a superintendent of police instead of a police sub-inspector. The bill was reintroduced in the last winter session of the assembly and sent to the joint select committee.