"Maharashtra Special Public Security act aims to curb activities of unlawful organisations," says IG Sandip Patil

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], July 13 (ANI): The Maharashtra government has proposed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024. The state Inspector General of Anti-Naxal Operations, Sandip Patil, stated that the objective of the act is to curb the activities of unlawful organisations.
"Recently, the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act was introduced in the assembly session of the Maharashtra government. This act aims to curb the activities of unlawful organisations. Maharashtra police and Gadchiroli police have been successful in containing jungle Maoists," said IG Sandip Patil.
Notably, the above-mentioned act allows the Maharashtra government to label any group as an illegal group by notification in the official gazette.
As per the draft bill, the term 'organisation' denotes any group or body that has a name or not and is governed by the constitution or not. 'Unlawful activity' stated in the bill denotes any action that "constitutes a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility, interferes with or tends to interfere with maintenance of public order, interferes with or tends to interfere with administration of law or its established institutions and personnel, of indulging in or propagating, acts of violence, vandalism, or other acts generating fear and apprehension in the public, or encourages or preaches disobedience to established law."
"If a member of an unlawful organisation takes part in meetings or activities of any such organisation or contributes or receives or solicits any contribution, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine up to `3 lakh," reads the bill.
All offences that have been mentioned under this law will be cognizable and non-bailable, and will be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector, as the bill mentioned.
The Maharashtra Assembly's monsoon session concluded on Friday without the passing of this bill. (ANI)