Governor Approves Public Safety Bill 2026, Enforces Triple Compensation for Property Damage

Governor R.N. Ravi gave his formal approval to the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti‑Social Activities Bill, 2026, during a ceremony in Kolkata on Monday. The legislation authorises swift action against anyone who attacks police personnel and introduces a punitive measure of three times the value of any damage inflicted on public assets, along with applicable interest.

The bill, which was recently passed by the state assembly, also provides for immediate legal proceedings against offenders and sets up a framework for compensating victims of property loss. Officials said the law aims to deter vandalism and protect government infrastructure.

In a concurrent statement, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari highlighted progress on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act hearings, noting that 23,000 certificates have already been issued and the remaining 207,000 applications are slated for rapid processing. He confirmed that district magistrates have received clear directives to accelerate the pending cases.

Adhikari also responded to accusations from former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the Annapurna Scheme. He asserted that more than 1.46 crore women have received direct financial assistance, and that the scheme has benefitted roughly 19 lakh Muslim families, emphasizing that the distribution is free from any religious or political bias.