the goan I network
PANAJI
The State government’s move to amend the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) which proposes a sharp increase in the jail sentence for violators from six months to up to three years suffered a setback in the Goa legislative assembly on Wednesday.
The amendment bill which was moved by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was eventually shelved and referred to a select committee after the Opposition raised vociferous protests.
Sawant paid heed to the criticism from the Opposition and agreed to refer the bill to a select committee.
Earlier members from the Opposition benches termed the amendment bill as “draconian”.
The Goa Essential Services Maintenance (amendment) Bill, 2020, had sought to tweak sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act. The changes would have effectively
imposed a jail term of up to three years as punishment for those found guilty of violating the act during any strike. The bill also proposed to impose a fine of a minimum of Rs 5,000 on offenders.
The move to tweak ESMA had also attracted strong criticism from labour unions across the State after it was made public following the decision of the cabinet to approve the amendment bill a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, the House passed the Goa Co-operative Societies (amendment) Bill, 2020. It proposes omission of the fourth proviso to the sub-section of section 59 of the Goa Co-operative Societies Act which had prohibited members of the Board of Directors of an apex or federal cooperative society from exercising or enjoying managerial powers or rights in their individual capacity in the primary co-operative society.
With the amendment passed and once it becomes law with its notification after the Governor’s assent, directors of apex or federal societies will also be allowed to work as directors in the primary society.
