Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Monday urged the Bombay High Court to reject petitions filed by the Congress, CPI and AITUC challenging the constitutional validity of the Special Public Security Act. During Monday’s hearing, the case came before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad. Following the recusal, the bench led by the Acting Chief Justice referred the matter to be reassigned to another division bench. Passed by the Maharashtra Assembly last July and signed by President Droupadi Murmu in December, the MSPSA is designed to curb Left-Wing Extremism and similar groups. It allows the state to declare organizations “unlawful” and penalizes membership, fundraising, management assistance, or involvement in unlawful activities.