A bill to curb anti-social activities, which includes a provision for detention for up to 12 months without trial, was tabled in the West Bengal Parliament on Monday.
While introducing the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the proposed legislation aims to prevent riots and other forms of violence.
The Prime Minister said that the draft law targets goondas It will not be misused in any way, including political purposes. He added that the draft law aims to reduce anti-social activities.
Explaining the rationale behind introducing the bill, Adhikari said the existing laws do not include provision to recover the cost of destruction of property from those involved in violence, directly or otherwise.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the proposed law stipulates that if a district magistrate, police commissioner, or a senior police officer fears that a “goonda” may be involved in anti-social activities, they can ban such people from entering a designated “area, area or areas” for a period of up to 12 months.
This provision is similar to the National Security Law of 1980, which allows preventive detention for up to 12 months without any formal charges or trial in the event of a potential threat to the state.
