PANAJI
The Goa Police Bill, first conceived nearly two decades ago to modernize the force, has repeatedly failed to reach the floor of the Legislative Assembly, including during the just-concluded monsoon session.
Drafted for the third time in 2023, the legislation was expected to be tabled for discussion and passage. Instead, it suffered yet another unexplained delay.
The latest version, prepared under former Director General of Police Jaspal Singh shortly before his transfer to Delhi, aligns with the Model Police Act developed by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It incorporated provisions from police legislation in Delhi and Mumbai, as well as the Indian Police Act, while introducing measures to address gaps in tracking habitual offenders -- a weakness Singh acknowledged had hampered policing in Goa.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced the drafting of the Bill in his 2023-24 Budget speech, citing the need to align with MHA guidelines. However, department sources said the delay in forwarding the draft to the government prevented its review by the Law Department.
The proposed Police Bill seeks to overhaul the constitution and organisation of the force, establish accountability and grievance-redressal mechanisms, and create specialised bodies to address emerging challenges in a fast-changing digital and security landscape.
The Bill’s history is one of repeated setbacks. First modelled on Singapore’s policing framework in 1995, it was rejected by then-President APJ Abdul Kalam. A fresh draft in 2008 was tabled the following year, only to be sent to a Select Committee headed by the then Home Minister Ravi Naik where it stalled indefinitely. Political opposition to a clause giving the Police Establishment Board exclusive authority over transfers and postings has been the obstacle.
A similar fate has befallen the proposed Model Draft Goa Fire & Emergency Services Bill, 2023, which was also expected to adapt to MHA standards but has yet to be enacted.
