Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
The Maharashtra government has introduced the Maharashtra Special Public Safety Bill (MSPSA), 2024 in the Legislative Assembly. After the bill is passed, the state police will be empowered to take action against those who provide logistics and safe shelter to Naxalites in cities. This bill of the Eknath Shinde government of Maharashtra is also being linked with urban Naxalism.
The bill states that there is a need to curb the illegal activities of Naxalite organizations through effective legal means. The existing laws are ineffective and inadequate to deal with Naxalism, its front organizations and individual supporters. The bill says that the threat posed by Naxalites is not limited to remote areas of the states. Naxalite organizations have also emerged in urban areas.
What are the provisions of the Maharashtra Special Public Safety Act, 2024?
Under this Act, the government can declare any organization involved in Naxalite activities outlawed by notification in the Gazette. Also, any group can be marked as an organization. The Bill provides that ‘unlawful activity’ shall mean any act which ‘creates a threat to public order, peace and harmony, interferes with the maintenance of public order’.
What else in law?
- Promotion of any act related to violence or vandalism which creates fear among the public will also be considered illegal activity.
- The bill states that anyone who is a member of an ‘unlawful organization’ or is involved in the activities of such an organization can be jailed for up to three years. There is also a provision of fine up to 3 lakhs.
- Under this Act, running or aiding in any way a declared illegal organization will be punishable with three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3 lakh.
- Those associated with organizations working for Naxal activities will face imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of up to 5 lakh rupees.
- The Bill empowers the District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police to confiscate the assets of organizations declared illegal. Once an organization is declared illegal, the DM or the Commissioner of Police can evict it from that place.
- If there are women and children in the place, time will be given before evacuation. The Act also empowers District Magistrates and Commissioners of Police to confiscate movable and immovable property of institutions.
