President Returns Bengal's Anti-Goonda Bill
The Centre said the bill overlaps with central drug-detention laws and could create a parallel preventive-detention system, prompting a return for reconsideration.
- On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu returned the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, for reconsideration, citing potential overlap with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
- Passed by the West Bengal Assembly in June, the legislation aims to curb organized crime, extortion, and public disorder by authorizing preventive detention for up to one year for individuals defined as "goonda."
- The Centre flagged Section 2, which defines "goonda" to include NDPS offences, arguing it creates a parallel preventive-detention mechanism conflicting with the PITNDPS Act, 1988, and raising Article 254 repugnancy concerns under the Constitution.
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari rejected media reports of the return on Friday, asserting the bill remains "under consideration" by the Home Ministry, contradicting official confirmation of the President's action.
- State officials plan to review the Centre's note and amend conflicting provisions before re-tabling the bill in the Assembly, hoping to secure Presidential assent after necessary adjustments are made.
16 Articles
16 Articles
West Bengal's anti-goonda bill not returned to state by President, news reports baseless: CM
<p>Kolkata, Sep 25 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday rejected reports that President Droupadi Murmu returned the anti-goonda bill to the state government for reconsideration, and said the proposed legislation is currently "under consideration" of the home ministry.</p><p>It was reported by a section of the media that the President had returned the bill, after objecting to a provision that may overlap with a central ant…
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaPresident returns Bengal's anti-goonda bill
The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, or the anti-goonda bill, was passed in the assembly in June, substantially expanding the state's powers to tackle organised crime, extortion, illegal mining, cybercrime and public disorder.
President returns Bengal anti-goonda bill over overlap with central drug law
The objection concerns Section 2(d)(iii)(B), which includes people involved in offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, within the bill’s definition of a “goonda”.
Prez Murmu returns Bengal's anti-goonda bill over Centre's drug-trafficking law overlap
Kolkata, Sep 25 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu has returned the West Bengal government’s proposed anti-goonda bill for reconsideration after objecting to a provision which may overlap with a central anti-narcotics law, an official said on Friday. The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, or the anti-goonda bill, was passed in […]
President Murmu returns West Bengal anti-goonda bill for reconsideration
President Droupadi Murmu has returned the West Bengal government's proposed anti-goonda bill for reconsideration. The objection stems from a provision in the bill that may overlap with a central anti-narcotics law, specifically concerning offences under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the PITNDPS Act, 1988. This raises concerns about potential duplication and repugnancy under Article 254 of the Constitution.
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