Story perspectives

President Murmu Returns West Bengal Bill Over NDPS Overlap

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Constitutional Overlap Concern

President Droupadi Murmu returned West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill to the state legislature on 25 September 2026.
The Union government said the bill’s “goonda” definition overlaps the NDPS Act, raising constitutional concerns, and officials will amend it before resubmission.
West Bengal Assembly passed the bill on 29 June 2026, pending presidential assent.
Calcutta High Court dismissed three public-interest litigations on 6 August 2026 as premature.

Left

Suppression of Dissent Fears

President Droupadi Murmu returned the West Bengal Public Safety and Anti-Social Activities Bill to the state legislature on 25 September 2026.
Critics warned the legislation could be misused to suppress political dissent and civil liberties.
Opposition parties and society protested the bill after its June 2026 introduction, citing political vendetta.
Calcutta High Court dismissed two litigations on 6 August, saying challenges must await presidential assent.

Blindspot

Critics warned that the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill could be misused to suppress political dissent and civil liberties.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In June 1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi convinced President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to proclaim an Emergency under Article 352, suspending civil liberties for 21 months until March 1977. The order detained more than 100,000 opponents and the Janata Party later highlighted the episode in its push for constitutional checks. Today President Droupadi Murmu’s return of West Bengal’s Public Safety Bill revives fears of similar unchecked security powers.

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Constitutional Overlap Concern

President Droupadi Murmu returned West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill to the state legislature on 25 September 2026.
The Union government said the bill’s “goonda” definition overlaps the NDPS Act, raising constitutional concerns, and officials will amend it before resubmission.
West Bengal Assembly passed the bill on 29 June 2026, pending presidential assent.
Calcutta High Court dismissed three public-interest litigations on 6 August 2026 as premature.

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