- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has said that the use of the National Security Act (NSA) by the Madhya Pradesh police in the cases of suspected cow slaughter was wrong and would not be repeated. In February 2019, MP government had invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against three men accused of killing a cow.
- The National Security Act was promulgated in 1980. The objective of the Act is to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith. The Act extends to whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir.
- According to the Act, the grounds for preventive detention of a person include: a) to prevent acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India, b) to regulate the continued presence of any foreigner in India or with a view to making arrangements for his expulsion from India, c) to prevent from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the state, d) to maintain public order, e) to maintain supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary so to do.
- Preventive detention is the imprisonment of a person with the aim of preventing them from committing further offenses or for maintaining public order.
