KOLKATA: The West Bengal government invoked a special portion of the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, also known as the 'anti-goonda law', in the state with effect from Monday.
Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday evening, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Governor RN Ravi had given his nod to the new Act, enabling the arrest of those attacking police and the recovery of costs for damage to public property.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government issued a notification in this regard during the day.
The CM was referring to the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, which was recently passed by the Assembly.
Besides property damage, according to Suvendu, the administration will take prompt and strong action under the Act if on-duty policemen are attacked by miscreants.
“The government invoked a special portion of the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, with effect from today in the state. No one will be spared under this Act if government property is damaged,” he said.
Earlier, on August 6, the state government had told the High Court that the ‘anti-Goonda’ Act was yet to come into force in Bengal.
Two petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the recently passed anti-goonda “Acts” were moved before the High Court in July. The court had set August 6 as the date for the state to inform it about the status of the proposed legislations.
On August 6, state Additional Advocate General Billwadal Bhattacharya told the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty that the Goonda Act had not yet become law.
“After the passage of the bills in the Assembly, they were sent to the governor for his assent. After the governor gave his assent to the bills, the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, was forwarded to the President. However, the President’s assent is yet to come,” he said.
“Since the bill has not yet received the approval of the President, it cannot be termed an Act. So, the court cannot hear a petition challenging the proposed Act or pass any interim order,” the bench said.
On Monday, the Chief Minister said that another portion of the Bill was awaiting the President's clearance. “I hope, it will be cleared by the President soon,” he said.
After the Assembly passed the two bills on June 29, Suvendu had announced a July 13 rollout.
On July 25, he had told the Assembly that troublemakers in connection with the SFI students' rally, held with the support of the CJP in Kolkata on July 24, would be charged under the two new legislations.
However, the state government's stand in the High Court on August 6 corroborated the two petitioners' claim that the bills had not been notified.
Suvendu also said that hearings on applications for citizenship under the CAA would soon be completed. So far, the state has issued certificates to 23,000 people out of 2.30 lakh applicants.