Vidhi Codex

The Maharashtra 1[Prevention of Dangerous Activities] Act, 1981

The Maharashtra 1[Prevention of Dangerous Activities] Act, 1981

General198120 sections

The Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act of 1981 allows the state government to detain individuals without trial to maintain public order. This law applies to specific repeat offenders in Maharashtra, including bootleggers, drug offenders, slumlords, sand smugglers, black-marketeers, human traffickers, video pirates, and dangerous gang members. It matters because it empowers local authorities to preemptively arrest and detain suspects for months based on suspicion rather than a formal conviction. Designed to protect public safety, health, and the economy, it bypasses standard criminal court proceedings, relying instead on executive orders and a specialized state advisory board to review each case.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2. Definitions
  3. 3. Power to make orders detaining certain persons.
  4. 4. Execution of detention orders.
  5. 5. Power to regulate place and conditions of detention.
  6. 5A. Grounds of detention severably.
  7. 6. Detention orders not to be invalid or inoperative on certain grounds.
  8. 7. Powers in relation to absconding persons.
  9. 8. Grounds of order of detention to be disclosed to persons affected by the order.
  10. 9. Constitution of Advisory Boards.
  11. 10. Reference to Advisory Board.
  12. 11. Procedure of Advisory Boards.
  13. 12. 12. Action upon report of Advisory Board.
  14. 13. Maximum period of detention.
  15. 14. Revocation of detention orders.
  16. 15. Temporary release of persons detained.
  17. 16. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  18. 17. Detention orders against any slumlord, bootlegger, drug-offender or dangerous person to be made under this Act and not under National Security Act.
  19. 17A. Detention order against any person engaged in black-marketing of essential commodities to be made under this Act and not under prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
  20. 18. Repeal of Mah. Ord. III of 1981 and saving.

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