The Hindu : Karnataka News : Public debate sought on draft Goa Police Bill

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Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010
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Karnataka

Public debate sought on draft Goa Police Bill

Special Correspondent

CSJP points out various anomalies in it

Public groups apprehensive that the Government will table the Bill without holding a public debate
‘Several provisions in the draft Bill are uncalled for in a small State like Goa'

PANAJI: Church affiliated Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has urged the Goa State Assembly Select Committee to hold a public debate on certain provisions of the draft Goa Police Bill before it is tabled in the House.

Fr. Maverick Fernandes of the CSJP said here on Monday that they have submitted a memorandum pointing out various anomalies and deficiencies, some “draconian” provisions and the “lip service” given to the Supreme Court directives, in the draft Bill.

Social and other groups are apprehensive that the Government would table the Bill in the brief Assembly session this month without holding a public debate on it.

Public groups have time and again opined that provisions such as creation of special police, creation of “security zones” and operating procedures for such provisions are uncalled for in a small State like Goa especially in the light of the attempt by the Government to create special economic zones and to give powers to private police under the old Goa Police Bill.

Pointing out another anomaly, the CSJP spokesman said that the apex court expected the Police Complaints Committee to be chaired by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court, with the names proposed by the Chief Justice. However, in the Goa Police Bill, according to the CSJP, this aspect has been discarded in toto.

Moreover, the Supreme Court envisages that the State Government select two to five members out of a panel of names suggested by the State Human Rights Commission, Lok Ayukta and the State Public Service Commission. Under the proposed Bill, this aspect too is given a go-by, according to the CSJP.

Instead, it proposes an authority under the Lok Ayukta, and in the absence of such Lok Ayukta, the composition of such committee is left to be notified by the State Government. There is no mention of any panel in the draft Bill. The functions of the authority have also been watered down, Fr. Fernandes said. He said that Goa at present did not have a Lok Ayukta and this aspect made it all the more confusing.

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