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In Context
- Recently, the NCRB data on preventive detentions in 2021 was released.
Data Highlights
- Preventive detentions in 2021:
- According to the latest crime statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau,
- Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise of over 23.7% compared to the year before.
- In 2021, over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention.
- A total of over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of the end of last year.
- Comparing with 2017 data:
- This year’s record is the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
- In 2017, 54.2% of persons detained as such were either in custody or still detained as of the end of the year.
- In 2021, this number decreased to 49.8%, with more than half of those preventively detained released.
- According to the latest crime statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau,
- National Security Act:
- Of the total preventive detentions, 483 were detentions under the National Security Act, of which almost half (241) were either in custody or still detained as of the end of 2021.
- While the number of persons placed under preventive detention has seen an increase in 2021, the NCRB data showed that the number of people arrested in such a manner under the National Security Act had dipped significantly compared to the year before.
- Preventive detentions under the NSA peaked in 2020 at 741. This number dropped to 483 in 2021.
- Other laws:
- Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306), Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and a category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514).
- Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the “Other Detention Acts” category.
- Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306), Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and a category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514).
Preventive Detention
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Way Ahead
- District magistrates and the police also often make preventive detentions to control law and order in emerging communal clashes or clashes between any two communities — even when it might not always lead to public disorder.
- Preventive detention should be strictly used with the delicate balance between social security and citizen freedom.
- As the Supreme Court has observed that to prevent misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be strictly construed and need to follow meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguards.
- There is an urgent need to ensure this.
About National Security Act
Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (NDPS Act):
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Source: TH
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