Maharashtra Assembly passes public security Bill; CM assures law won’t be misused

The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, aimed at preventing “unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organisations or similar groups”. The Bill will now be tabled in the Legislative Council.

“I assure the House that we will not allow the misuse of this law. I request the House to pass this Bill unanimously,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who tabled the Bill, said after a nearly two-hour discussion on the draft legislation in the Assembly.

Despite opposition from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and objections by other parties, Speaker Rahul Narvekar declared that the Bill, put to vote through a voice vote, was approved by a majority.

With the passage of the Bill in both Houses, Maharashtra will become the fifth State after Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to enact a public security law. The law will impose punishments ranging from two to seven years in prison for members of unlawful organisations. Offences under the Act will be cognisable and non-bailable in nature, and grant the government the authority to seize and forfeit funds belonging to such groups.

The Bill was introduced in the Winter Session of the Assembly in December 2024 and referred to a joint select committee for scrutiny. Revenue Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule had tabled the joint select committee’s report in the House on Wednesday.

‘A safe haven’

“The other four States have banned 48 frontal organisations. Maharashtra has 64 such organisations, the highest in the country. Not a single one of the left-wing extremist organisations have been banned. The State has become a safe haven for them. They have set up their headquarters here. Maharashtra is a hotbed now. Konkan, Amravati, and Beed are among the regions where these organisations function. In Gadchiroli, active cadres are coming to an end. But like the ISI and the ISIS, they do radicalisation. The modus operandi is to brainwash academics and bureaucrats. Please note that no individual entity can be arrested under this Act. A person will have to be a part of a banned organisation,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister clarified that the law is not against the Left parties. He said “left-wing extremist organisation” refers to a specific category of groups involved in extremism, distinct from political parties like the CPI or CPI(M). He highlighted that peaceful protests by students, farmers, or other groups are their right, and this law would only apply if violence erupts. Mr. Fadnavis said individuals can’t be arrested merely for speaking against the government. He explained that any notification under the law requires certification from an advisory board, and arrests would need court approval based on evidence

Expressing concerns about the Bill, CPI legislator Vinod Nikole said, “Organisations that protest in accordance with the rule of law, which believe in the framework of the Constitution, should not face problems. The possibility of such organisations suffering is there, so I oppose this Bill.”

Congress leader Nitin Raut said organisations working within the Constitution’s ambit shouldn’t be affected by the law.

‘Definitions need clarity’

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said certain definitions in the Bill were “ambiguous”. “Instead of ‘extremist left-wing organisations’, one could say Naxal organisations. The sense through the Bill is that people with Left ideology will be targeted. No extremism is good — either right or left. There should have been clarity in definition. The words ‘Naxalism’ or ‘Maoism’ should have been used,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai asked whether student organisations or farmers’ groups would be booked under the Act for protesting. “Every university has Left-leaning groups. They are also very strong. If they protest or post something on WhatsApp, will they face any action? If an organisation like Marathi Kruti Samiti decides to work against the government policy or law, like it did against the three-language policy, will they face any action?” he said.

Congress leader Vishwajeet Kadam said “no innocent person should suffer” because of the Bill. “Can action be taken after years? If financial aid was given a decade ago, can action still be taken?” he said.