The Madhya Pradesh High Court has requested clarification from the state government regarding the continued enforcement of the Madhya Pradesh Dacoity and Kidnapping Affected Areas Act, which is 45 years old. This inquiry follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that pointed out that over 1,000 individuals have been charged under this law since 2020, despite the state being declared free of dacoits. The court’s move raises questions about the relevance and application of this legislation in the current context.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Gwalior bench, issued show-cause notices to the home department, director general of police, and superintendents of police of the Chambal and Gwalior ranges, asking why the law should not be struck down. “The law was enacted to deal with dacoits who no longer exist. Yet Sections 11 and 13, which are non-bailable, are invoked even in ordinary property disputes, thefts, or altercations to suppress rights.
Innocent citizens are denied anticipatory bail, violating fundamental rights to equality and personal liberty,” Singh said.
