New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has authorized Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar to exercise preventive detention powers under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980. Published in the Delhi Gazette (Extraordinary), the notification delegates the authority to detain individuals without formal charges for a period ranging from 12 days to a maximum of 12 months for three months, effective from July 19 to October 18.
Issued under the direction of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the order invokes Section 3(3) read with Section 2(e) of the NSA, citing the necessity of preserving public order and state security. The decision comes as the national capital witnesses expanding demonstrations over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination paper leak, where clashes between student groups and law enforcement have already resulted in multiple first information reports and growing calls for political accountability. Under these delegated powers, the police chief can order preventive detentions against anyone deemed to be engaging in activities prejudicial to national security or public safety.
The invocation of preventive detention statutes in high-profile agitations continues to draw widespread attention, recalling previous instances such as the 170-day detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk under similar provisions by administrative authorities in Leh. Under the standard legal framework of the NSA, police departments and district magistrates are designated as detaining authorities to maintain public order during periods of heightened civil unrest.
