: The Maharashtra government on Thursday tabled a bill in the assembly aimed at preventing unlawful activities of individuals and organisations, with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stressing the need to curb the rising presence of Naxal outfits in rural and urban areas through effective legal means. Named as 'Maharashtra Special Public Security Act 2024, this bill is seen to curb the menace of Naxalism and its sympathisers in urban areas. Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts for effective prevention of unlawful activities.
The bill tabled in the Lower House of the state legislature describes unlawful activities as indulging in or propagating acts of violence, vandalism or other acts generating fear and apprehension in the public. Indulging in or encouraging use of firearms, explosives or other devices, encouraging or preaching disobedience to established law and its institutions is also an unlawful activity, it said. The unlawful organisation is the one which indulges in or bets or assists, gives aid, encourages directly or indirectly any unlawful activity.
Association with an unlawful organisation will see a jail term from three to seven years and a fine of Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh. An advisory board will decide whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring an organisation as unlawful. It will submit a report to the government in three months.
All offences under this act will be cognisable and non-bailable. The offen.