The Bengal Regulation III of 1818, or the Bengal State Prisoners Regulation, III, was passed on this day.
It allowed preventive detention in the Presidency of Bengal under colonial rule. It entitled the administration to detain an individual for an indefinite period, on suspicion of criminal intent, and without any commitment to the detainee of facing a trial.
Similar laws were enacted in Madras and Bombay presidencies.
The 1818 law was in force till at least 1927 and was used widely and arbitrarily to detain Indians participating in nationalist movements. Its was enforced, along with a similar law of 1915, especially during World War I and after it, to detain individuals suspected of any nationalist sympathy.
For suggestions on dates/events mail us at: yesterdate@abp.in