Now Reading: Calcutta High Court Rejects Early Challenge to Bengal Anti-Goonda Law
-
01
Calcutta High Court Rejects Early Challenge to Bengal Anti-Goonda Law
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL challenging West Bengal’s anti-goonda legislation, saying the petition was premature when filed because the Bill had not received assent or been notified. A…
The Story in Brief
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL challenging West Bengal’s anti-goonda legislation, saying the petition was premature when filed because the Bill had not received assent or been notified. A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty said petitioners may return after the law comes into force.
The Assembly passed the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill on 29 June. Governor R.N. Ravi later assented to it, and the state government brought it into force on 13 July. The law permits preventive detention for up to one year and restrictions on entering specified areas. Critics, including opposition parties and civil rights groups, fear misuse.
The Indian Opinion
The loudest claims on both sides need restraint. Calling the law a simple public safety measure ignores its one-year detention power, while declaring every detention politically motivated assumes abuse before a case is tested. The court has not upheld the law’s constitutionality. Its decision leaves that question open, now that the legislation is in force. The next test will be whether a fresh PIL is filed and how the court examines the detention safeguards.
Source: nationalheraldindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
