PANAJI
In yet another attempt for a Police Act, the department has once again submitted the draft ‘Goa Police Bill’ to the government, incorporating new changes in the three criminal laws.
Director General of Police Jaspal Singh conceded that the force suffered several reverses in the past due to the 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,” he said in a media statement on Thursday.
With the hope that the draft Bill would be tabled in the upcoming assembly session, the department stated the Act has been based on the Model Police Act prepared by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs.
“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 the Police Act 1861 which is anachronistic and out of tune with the times,” Singh said.
The draft provides for the constitution and organisation 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.
“Due to changes in the socio-political environment and the 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 Pertinently, many states have enacted new police acts and repealed the Police Act 1861,” the DGP added.
The draft bill, submitted several times over many years, has not been taken up in the Legislative Assembly for discussion and passage. The Bill had lapsed after the dissolution of the Assembly in 2012 while it has been pending for 16 years despite successive governments being fully aware that its passage is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability in the police force.
In 1995 the then government planned to pattern the Bill on the Singapore model. After several hurdles within the State owing to some controversial provisions, it was sent to the President for assent. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam rejected the Bill. The State government thereafter re-drafted the Bill in 2008 and tabled it in the Legislative Assembly in 2009.
