Two “anti-goonda” bills —
the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026 are passed by the state legislature.
“Bhadrolok” would not be harassed under the Act, says the chief minister (in reference to 'gentlemen' as against wrongdoers)
“For 15 years, there was a government of goons, and before that, there was a government of harmads (ref to Left),” West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari told reporters at the Assembly premises.
“The new law was very much needed to rein in the communist harmads of 34 years and the Trinamool goons of the last 15 years.”
The manner of Suvendu’s justification of the “Goonda Act” — actually a matrix of two new, complementary laws — prompted Opposition parties and political experts to wonder whether the legislation would be used more to curb dissent than to check crime. The Assembly had on June 29 passed the two “anti-goonda” bills — the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The first law identifies “goondas”, who can be detained for up to 12 months. Those considered greater threats cannot engage lawyers of their own choice and can only seek assistance through the government’s legal aid services.
The second law makes goondas liable to pay compensation for damage to public or private property. A Claims Commission will determine the compensation.
Both laws came into force on Monday.
“There is no scarcity of laws in our country to control goons. This new Act was actually brought in to threaten and restrain the voices of dissent,” CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said.
“The BJP government has introduced this law to suppress democratic protests instead of controlling goondas.”
He added: “By referring to the ‘harmads of the 34 years of Left rule’, the chief minister has clearly indicated how the Act will be used politically against our party workers and leaders. However, we are not afraid and will fight on.”
Trinamool argued the old laws were good enough to tackle hoodlums, and that the twin Acts had been brought in to target the Opposition.
“The new law will allow the police to detain a person for a long period without judicial intervention. The person cannot even appoint his or her own lawyer and may not be produced before the court,” Trinamool state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.
“There is a law to issue an arrest memo and produce the accused before the court within 24 hours. However, this new law will bypass the courts.”
He added: “Some clauses and sub-clauses of the Act are more useful for oppressing the Opposition for political reasons than for reining in goons.”
There are apprehensions about the new laws being used against the Opposition, referring to previous draconian laws such as the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (Tada) and the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (Misa).
Starting from Misa (1971-77) and Tada (1985-1995), whenever such draconian laws are passed, they are invariably used against the Opposition rather than against criminals, it is said.
Speaking in the Assembly on June 29, CM Suvendu, said:
"...the stringent laws were necessary. The existing Acts don’t make criminals liable for damage to public or private property or force them to pay compensation".
ends
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