Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule has compared the proposed Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, to the colonial-era Rowlatt Act, warning that it could be used to suppress dissent and create a “police raj.”
She urged the state government to review the draft to ensure it does not violate constitutional principles.
The bill, which aims to combat urban Naxalism, grants significant powers to the state and police to tackle unlawful activities. It designates all offences under its provisions as cognisable and non-bailable.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while reintroducing the bill during the winter session last December, asserted that it was not intended to stifle genuine dissent but to shut down alleged urban Naxal operations.
Sule, however, claimed the proposed law undermines fundamental rights by restricting criticism of the government. She argued that democracy thrives on diverse viewpoints and opposition voices, which hold those in power accountable.
She also expressed concerns about the broad definition of "illegal acts" in the bill, alleging it grants unchecked power to authorities, which could be misused against individuals, institutions, or organisations engaged in democratic opposition.
Sule warned that the bill could criminalise peaceful protests, criticism of government policies, and other forms of democratic expression. She also criticised provisions that she claimed would interfere with judicial processes, threatening the independence of the judiciary.
Drawing parallels with the Rowlatt Act, which the British used to suppress opposition during colonial rule, Sule said the Maharashtra bill is a “direct denial” of constitutional values. She demanded that the government reconsider the bill’s provisions to prevent potential misuse.
Fadnavis defended the need for the bill, citing the absence of a specific law to tackle Naxalism in Maharashtra. He pointed out that other states, including Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, have similar public security laws.
According to the bill, unlawful activities include acts of violence, vandalism, and activities that spread fear. Encouraging disobedience of the law or supporting an unlawful organisation could also be penalised.
Associating with an unlawful organisation could result in a prison term of three to seven years and fines ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
A special advisory board will determine whether an organisation qualifies as unlawful, and its recommendations will be submitted to the government within three months.
All offences under the proposed law will be investigated by a police officer of at least sub-inspector rank.
Cases will require written approval from an officer of deputy inspector general rank or higher, while no court can take cognisance of a case without a report from an officer of additional director general of police rank.
The bill was first introduced in July 2024 but was not passed at the time. It has now been reintroduced and will be reviewed by a joint select committee of the state legislature. The final version is expected to be presented in the monsoon session of July 2025.
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