Maharashtra hub of 'urban Maoist' activities: Government on Special Public Security Act
The Maharashtra government has defended the Special Public Security Act in the Bombay High Court, citing the need to combat urban Maoist activities. The state claims there are 64 active frontal organizations operating within its borders, necessitating a robust legal framework.
Why it matters
The legislation is a point of contention regarding the balance between state security measures and fundamental civil liberties in India.
The Maharashtra Special Public Security Act was introduced as the State has become the "focal point of urban Maoist" activities, the government has said, citing the presence of 64 active frontal organisations, the highest in the country.
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The legislation was brought to provide a robust legal framework to prevent and tackle unlawful, subversive, and extremist activities, the state government said in an affidavit filed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (October 8, 2026).
The affidavit was submitted in response to a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act (MSPSA).
The growing presence of "urban Maoist" networks across the state necessitated a special legal framework to tackle unlawful and subversive activities, it noted.
As per the affidavit, Maharashtra had emerged as a "focal point for urban Maoist activities".
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