UP Gangsters Act appears draconian, says Supreme Courtroom

The Supreme Courtroom on Wednesday, 4 December, noticed that the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Actions (Prevention) Act gave the impression to be “draconian”.

The statement by a bench of justices B.R. Gavai and Ok.V. Viswanathan got here whereas it was listening to a plea filed by a person who has challenged a Could 2023 Allahabad Excessive Courtroom order dismissing his utility that prays to put aside the proceedings towards him pending earlier than a district court docket in Kasganj in a case registered below the Gangsters Act.

“This Act seems to be draconian,” the apex court docket noticed.

“We are going to think about it,” the bench stated whereas admitting the attraction.

Whereas listening to the matter in November 2023, the Supreme Courtroom had sought responses from the Uttar Pradesh authorities and others on the plea, saying, “By the use of [an] ad-interim order, no coercive steps be taken towards the petitioner qua Gangster Act.”

On Wednesday, the petitioner’s counsel stated he has been booked within the case below the provisions of the 1986 Act on allegations of unlawful mining within the Ganga river.

The counsel argued that earlier one other FIR associated to alleged unlawful mining has already been registered.

“They’ve booked me twice for a similar allegation,” the petitioner’s lawyer argued.

Counsel showing for the state referred to the provisions of the 1986 Act.