National Security Act, 1980

The National Security Act, 1980 empowers the Union Government or the State Governments to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India, or with respect to any foreigner with a view to regulating his continued presence in India.

• Such preventive detention can also be made with a view to preventing a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.
• The Act also constitutes Advisory Boards which have to approve any such detention.