Bhopal, Sept. 13 -- The Madhya Pradesh high court has sought an explanation from the state government on why the 45-year-old Madhya Pradesh Dacoity and Kidnapping Affected Areas Act should not be struck down, after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighted that more than 1,000 people have been booked under it since 2020 despite the state being declared dacoit-free.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Gwalior bench, issued show-cause notices to the home department, director general of police, and superintendents of police of the Chambal and Gwalior ranges, asking why the law should not be struck down.

A divisional bench of Justice GS Ahluwalia and Justice Anuradha Shukla directed the state government to submit the status of pending cases...