The West Bengal Assembly on Monday (29th June) passed the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill 2026. The amendment is aimed at curbing antisocial activities in the state that may threaten public peace and order. Alongside, the Assembly also passed the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2026, which enables the state to recover compensation for damage to public and private property during riots and violent protests. The amendment bills received 176 votes in their favour and 41 opposing them.
The bills empower the state to deal with organised crime through provisions, including those providing for preventive detention for a period of 1 year. Before the bills were passed, a breakaway group proposed amendments that were not considered by the treasury bench.
A highlight of the bills is the widening of the definition of “goonda” to cover habitual offenders, persons who attempt, finance, facilitate or promote anti-social activities, leaders or members of criminal gangs or syndicates, as well as persons charge-sheeted for organised crime under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
While introducing the bills, CM Suvendu Adhikari said that the existing legal provisions had proved inadequate in dealing with organised criminal syndicates and anti-social elements. The bills mark a significant development in the state’s laws governing public order.
