India, June 27 -- The joint select committee of the state legislature has finalised the revised draft of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, after amending key provisions following strong criticism from civil society and watchdog bodies.

The revised draft restricts "unlawful activities" to "naxal activities", and to "organisations" involved in such activities, vis-a-vis the earlier provision that held "individuals" responsible for such unlawful activities.

The bill aims at preventing "urban naxals from pushing youth to the naxal movement", but civil society and social organisations continue to oppose the bill. Maintaining that there is still sufficient potential for the proposed law to be used to silence dissent against ...