PANAJI
Amidst the backdrop of fraudulent land grab cases, the State government on Wednesday introduced a bill, wherein a person found taking public records out of the State without approval or destroying them would be imprisoned for a period up to five years.
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant introduced a bill “Goa Ancient Historical Records, Acquisitions and Preservation Bill” 2023 to regulate the management, administration and preservation of public records of the Government, local authorities, public sector undertakings, statutory bodies and corporations, commissions and committees constituted by the Government.
“The Government shall have the power to coordinate, regulate and supervise the operations connected with the administration, management, preservation, selection, disposal and retirement of public records under this Act,” the bill stated.
According to the bill, no person shall take or cause to be taken out of State any public records without the prior approval of the Government, provided that records are taken for any official purpose.
The Bill also stated that no record created before the year 1961 shall be destroyed except where in the opinion of the Archives Director, it is so defaced or is in such condition that it cannot be put to any archival use.
“Whoever contravenes any of the provisions shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both,” it said further.
The Bill empowers appointing a Record Officer, who, in the event of any unauthorized removal, destruction, defacement or alteration of any public records under his charge, take appropriate action for the recovery or restoration of such public record.
The bill also speaks about constituting an Archival Advisory Board under secretary archives.
