National Security Act (NSA), 1980
Preventive Detention
The National Security Act, 1980 is a preventive detention law that allows the central or state government to detain an individual for up to 12 months without trial if they believe the person is a threat to national security, public order, or the maintenance of essential services.
- NSA detention can be ordered by the District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police, or the State/Central Government.
- The detained person has the right to know grounds of detention (Article 22(5)) but cannot be represented by a lawyer before the Advisory Board.
- The Advisory Board (composed of retired High Court judges) reviews each detention within 7 weeks; Parliament approval is required for detention beyond 3 months.
- NSA is distinct from ordinary criminal arrest: no FIR, no bail, no trial — making it a controversial tool often challenged under Articles 21 and 22.
● Tracked since March 14, 2026 · last seen March 14, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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