27 Jun 2024 | 11:13pm IST
Yet another attempt ! Goa Police submit draft Goa Police Act - 2024
Fifth attempt to draft the bill since 1996
Goa Police has once again submitted the draft ‘
Goa Police Bill ‘ to the government, incorporating the new changes in the three
criminal Laws. The Act has been based on the Model Police Act prepared by the
Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of
India.
Goa Police bill was drafted four times in 1996, 2008, 2012 and in 2016, but could not be passed and subsequently lapsed.
A TIMELINE OF POLICE BILL (UN) BILL !Despite repeated announcements by successive governments, the State has lagged in enacting a Goa Police Act since 1996. The act hasn’t seen the light of the day for over two decades. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during the Budget Session 2023-24 had announced that the government has initiated the process of drafting the new Goa Police Bill, 2023 in line with the Model Police Act prepared by MHA, New Delhi. The political apathy and fear of bureaucracy of police getting evermore powerful, especially with the power of transfers taken away from the netas, has reduced the likelihood of the Act becoming a reality.Police Establishment says that the need for a Police Act arises to give
statutory recognition to the police force and enable it to discharge its
duties. It creates various ranks and specifies job descriptions of various
ranks. Hitherto, Police forces of various states have been drawing powers from
Police Act 1861 which is anachronistic and out of tune with times. Due to
changes in socio- political environment and emergence of digital technologies,
several new challenges have emerged. To tackle and provide for these
challenges, a new Police Act is required. Pertinently, many states have enacted
new police acts and repealed Police Act 1861. The draft Goa Police Act provides for
constitution and organization of the Police Service, police welfare and grievances
redressal Mechanism, police establishment boards, police
accountability commission and several other structures to deal with new and
emerging challenges.The draft bill is being submitted since many
years but it has note been taken up in the Legislative Assembly for discussion
and passage.
Pertinently, Goa Police has suffered several
reverses in the past on account of lack of authority to prepare history sheets
of habitual offenders.
In fact many states have enacted their Police
Acts in conformance with the current realities.
