India, Jan. 23 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced its hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.

A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan was told by the petitioners that the 1986 law was arbitrary and repugnant to the central legislation.

Senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for one of the petitioners, submitted that section 111 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, already dealt with gangsters and organised crime, which is also being dealt with in the UP Gangsters Act. He added that the State Government has amended the rules pertaining to the 1986 Act and its provision of attachmen...