India, Aug. 21 -- Observing that the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act is prone to misuse, the Supreme Court has held that the 1986 law is "stillborn," since a person cannot be punished merely for being labelled a "gangster."

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran said the law, enacted to curb violence and organised criminal activity, could instead be used against unsuspecting citizens.

The UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act is a special state law meant to target and punish organised crime syndicates, criminal gangs and habitual anti-social elements. A "stillborn" law is a legal term for a statute that is invalid or legally dead from its inception because it fails...