West Bengal anti-social activities Bill to be tabled on June 29
Synopsis
West Bengal is set to table a sweeping public safety law on 29 June that could keep individuals under preventive arrest for up to a year and allow the state to confiscate their property — all overseen by a High Court-headed advisory board. It is one of the most expansive state-level anti-social activity laws since the BNS replaced the IPC.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal will table 'The West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026' in the Assembly on 29 June 2026 .
The Bill enables preventive arrest for up to one year for persons identified as threats to public safety.
The state government can confiscate property of individuals involved in anti-social offences under relevant BNS provisions.
An advisory board headed by a sitting or former Calcutta High Court judge will oversee all preventive detention decisions.
Police will gain powers to expel or ban individuals from specific areas to prevent potential unrest.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the Bill's introduction during the ongoing budget session of the West Bengal Assembly.
The West Bengal government is set to table 'The West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026' on the floor of the state Assembly on 29 June 2026, following the issuance of a gazette notification for the legislation. The Bill, published in a special issue of the Calcutta Gazette, aims to ensure public safety, maintain law and order, and establish strict control over organised anti-social activities in the state.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The legislation is structured around two principal mechanisms that distinguish it from existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The first empowers authorities to place a person identified as a threat to public safety under preventive arrest for up to one year. The second grants the state government the power to confiscate property of individuals found involved in anti-social offences by invoking the relevant sections of the BNS.
Additionally, the proposed law would give police the authority to expel or ban a person from a specific area if there is reasonable apprehension that their presence could cause unrest. The Bill also includes provisions offering legal protection to police and government officials involved in its implementation.
Advisory Board to Oversee Preventive Detention
A key safeguard built into the Bill is the formation of an advisory board to oversee the application of preventive arrest. This board will determine whether preventive detention is warranted in individual cases and assess the reasonableness of each detention. Crucially, a detainee will be permitted to appoint a representative to defend their case before the board.
The advisory board will be headed by a sitting or former judge of the Calcutta High Court, with two additional members who are qualified to serve as High Court judges. This structure is intended to provide judicial oversight over what critics may argue is a sweeping executive power.
Legislative Background
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced plans to introduce the Bill earlier this week during deliberations in the ongoing budget session of the West Bengal Assembly. The gazette notification has already been issued ahead of the Monday, 29 June tabling, clearing the procedural path for the House to take it up for clearance.
The Bill comes amid broader national conversations about balancing public order legislation with civil liberties protections, particularly as several states have revisited preventive detention frameworks in the post-BNS legal landscape. Whether the West Bengal Assembly passes the Bill without amendments remains to be seen.
Point of View
And West Bengal's own track record on law enforcement is contested. The advisory board mechanism, while a structural safeguard, depends entirely on its independence from executive pressure. Notably, the Bill arrives as the state government faces criticism over law and order; the timing raises the question of whether this is genuine reform or a legislative signalling exercise ahead of elections. The real test will be in the implementation data — how many detentions, of whom, and on what grounds.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026?
It is a proposed state law to be tabled in the West Bengal Assembly on 29 June 2026, aimed at ensuring public safety and controlling organised anti-social activities. Its key provisions include preventive arrest for up to one year and state power to confiscate property of offenders under BNS provisions.
When will the Bill be presented in the West Bengal Assembly?
The Bill is scheduled to be presented on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly on Monday, 29 June 2026. The gazette notification has already been issued, clearing the procedural path for the House.
What is the role of the advisory board under this Bill?
The advisory board will decide whether preventive arrest is applicable in individual cases and assess the reasonableness of each detention. It will be headed by a sitting or former Calcutta High Court judge, with two additional members qualified to serve as High Court judges. Detainees may appoint a representative to defend themselves before the board.
How does this Bill differ from existing laws under the BNS?
The Bill introduces two mechanisms not directly available under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — preventive arrest for up to one year for persons deemed a public safety threat, and state-initiated property confiscation for anti-social offences. It also grants police the power to expel individuals from specific areas to prevent unrest.
Who announced the Bill and why?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced plans to introduce the Bill during the ongoing budget session of the West Bengal Assembly. The stated aim is to ensure public safety and establish stricter control over organised anti-social activities in the state.
