The Maharashtra government has has introduced The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPC) Bill, 2024 in the Assembly on July 11.
The bill aims to deal with the increasing presence of Naxalism in urban centres.
- The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says the “menace of Naxalism is not only limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected states, but its presence is increasing in the urban areas also through the Naxal front organisations”.
- The Bill gives the government the power to declare any suspect organisation as an “unlawful organisation.
- It prescribes four offences for which an individual can be punished: (i) for being a member of an unlawful organisation, (ii) when not a member, for raising funds for an unlawful organisation, (iii) for managing or assisting in managing an unlawful organisation and, (iv) for committing an unlawful activity.
- These four offences carry jail terms of up to two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from up to Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The offence relating to committing an unlawful activity carries the toughest punishment: imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
