A new Bill named “The West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026” has been approved by a majority in the West Bengal Assembly. The Bill, supported by 176 legislators from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aims to combat corruption and anti-social behavior. It received 41 votes against and 20 abstentions.
The legislation focuses on ensuring public safety, upholding law and order, and cracking down on organized anti-social activities. It introduces provisions for preventive detention for individuals posing a threat to public safety, allowing detention for up to one year. Additionally, the state government gains authority to seize the assets of those involved in such offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
To implement preventive detention, an advisory board will be established to evaluate the necessity of detention for each individual case. This board, led by a serving or former judge of the Calcutta High Court, will also include two other members eligible to be High Court judges. The law empowers the police to restrict individuals from specific areas if they are deemed likely to incite unrest.
Furthermore, the legislation offers protection to law enforcement officers and government personnel involved in its enforcement. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari highlighted the need for this robust Bill, citing incidents of violence and hooliganism during the previous administration. He clarified that the provision for preventive detention targets individuals with a history of criminal activities, not law-abiding citizens.
