Everyone -- police officials, politicians and civil society -- recognises that Goa needs a new Goa Police Bill simply because functioning under an Act that was drafted during the colonial days is not a desirable option.
However, not everyone can agree on what the new draft should look like. While the politicians would want to retain as much control as they can over the functioning of the police, civil society wants that the police be as independent as possible, while the police themselves would want a bill that enacts better welfare for the men and women who are at the frontline of civil conflict.
Rather than take the bull by the horns, successive governments have chosen to do nothing and hoped the situation would solve itself which has only amounted to kicking the can down the road.
The problems with the current Acts under which the police function is that they were drafted with a colonial mindset where the police were mainly used as a tool of crowd control and maintaining law and order by the colonial rulers to keep the natives under check.
The roles played by the police have evolved since then. Today the need for thorough investigation of crimes and effective prosecution plays an equal, if not more important role that the police need to play.
However, governments of the day continue to use the police force at their disposal to quell crowds and gatherings often against government policy to maintain strict control over dissent. It explains why governments have been reluctant to change the status quo.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's assurance that he will hold public consultations is welcome but it does not reveal exactly how much political will he has to see this through.
The danger with every change is that, in the wrong hands, things could change for the worse. This is a real threat and needs to be guarded against. In the case of Goa, the Bill can be drafted to involve a greater participation in the view of community consultation being made part of the Act rather than the efforts of individual policemen as is the currently the practice; to be strict against corruption within the department and in acting against corrupt cops as well as penal provisions for poor quality investigations leading to acquittals.
While governments, especially the current one, have repeatedly insisted that police investigations and actions are independent and not at the behest of political interference, it is among the least believable statements that any government can make and something that is routinely scoffed at.
Stories of police failing to register FIRs because of calls from politicians, going slow or with gusto on cases depending on the political pressures are commonplace.
Can the government think beyond itself and draft a law that gives more independence to the police to be fair and just, which is among the police's most basic duties or will it make it more draconian?
