The Gujarat Bill, which grants police the authority to retaliate against rioters, is approved by President Droupadi Murmu

On January 4, officials announced that a Gujarat Bill that makes it easier to file criminal charges against people who hold rallies in violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had gained presidential approval. 

The State Assembly approved the Code of Criminal Procedure (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2021, in March of the previous year. Any infringement of Prohibitory Orders provided under Section 144 CrPC is intended to constitute a punishable offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant).

It amends Section 195 of the CrPC, which provides that a criminal conspiracy for disobeying a public worker’s lawful power may not be brought before a court without the government employee in question filing a written complaint first.

This news was written by Ms. Pujari Dharani, Research Assistant, All India Legal Forum.