Mumbai: Bombay HC on Tuesday directed the state govt to reply to petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2025.Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata were hearing petition filed by Congress, CPI, People’s Union for Civil Liberties and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) to declare the Act unconstitutional and violative of fundamental rights as it will “suppress constitutionally protected peaceful and legitimate dissent”.On Tuesday, while the petitioners’ advocates were ready to argue, the judges noted the state had not filed its reply. Urging interim relief, senior advocate Navroz Seervai, for AITUC, said the Act is “so egregious” as people’s goods, money and property can be confiscated and they can be thrown out of their houses. He said in 1952, a constitutional bench had struck down similar provisions in another statute passed by the State of Madras.HC posted the hearing for Oct 6.
