Gujarat Police will now be able to act openly against the protesters

The Gujarat Bill to facilitate registration of criminal cases against protesters violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has received the assent of the President. Officials gave this information on Wednesday. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Gujarat Amendment) Bill was passed by the state assembly in March last year 2021.

The Bill seeks to make any violation of prohibitory orders issued under section 144 CrPC a cognizable offense under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code. It amends Section 195 of CrPC, which states that no court shall take cognizance of any criminal conspiracy for contempt of lawful authority of public servants, except on a complaint in writing by the public servant concerned.

A Home Ministry official said that the Code of Criminal Procedure (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been approved by the President. As per the statement and objects of the Bill, the Government of Gujarat, Police Commissioners and District Magistrates are empowered to issue prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC, requiring any person to abstain from a certain act or to disturb the public peace or on various occasions Certain orders are directed to be taken to prevent riot or matter from happening in order to maintain public order.