the goan I network
PANAJI
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday announced that the state government is seriously considering the possibility of imposing Section 144 in Goa with an eye on restricting movement to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 in the tourist state.
Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code Section 144 empowers the District Magistrate “to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger”.
As per the CrPC, an order under this section may be directed to a particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane made the announcement after attending, along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, a video-conference convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chief Ministers of all states.
“We will consider the possibility of imposing Section 144 as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has given his sanction to this proposal. Gathering of more than five people has to be discouraged,” Rane said, adding that in the view of safety of the public and the guidance given by the PM about the possible steps states can take to manage the spread of COVID-19.
He further stated that the Chief Minister is likely to take a decision about restricting interstate transport across Goa’s borders.
“I have put in a thing that bus services inter state should stop. But the CM will take a call on how to handle it because all the commodities that come from outside Goa. More or less, he has made up his mind to take a call in that direction,” Rane explained.
It was learnt that the Government of India has also issued guidelines about how the state governments should function and carry out its activities in times of the pandemic, in the interest of public safety.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister has disclosed that CM on Friday granted state sanction for release of funds for setting up a virology laboratory in Goa and that the GoI funds are awaited to begin work.
