A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, was filed at the Calcutta High Court. Advocate and CPI(M) leader, Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay, approached the court seeking an immediate stay on the new law. The PIL has been admitted for hearing this week, with the exact date yet to be finalized.
In the petition, Chattopadhyay opposed a provision in the new law allowing the police to detain individuals considered a threat to public safety for up to a year. This provision had faced criticism from Opposition parties and civil society since its passage in the West Bengal Assembly. The PIL highlighted concerns about the potential misuse of the detention provision.
Despite objections, the ruling BJP defended the provision, arguing that the process of preventive detention would involve a detailed procedure. The law also includes an “externment order” allowing authorities to remove individuals posing a risk of inciting unrest from specific areas for up to a year. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured that law-abiding citizens need not worry about the law, which targets anti-social elements and individuals involved in corruption.
