PANAJI
Government hospitals, schools, municipal bodies and even police premises will soon become official workplaces for offenders in Goa. The State has issued a notification putting into effect community service as a punishment under the new criminal laws.
The notification, released after consultations with the High Court of Bombay, lists 16 types of community service, the authorities who can assign them, and how long the work may last. According to the Home Department order signed by Under Secretary (Home-I) Manthan Manoj Naik, the guidelines are issued under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Courts can assign community service for one to 31 days or 40 to 240 hours, depending on the case. Offenders may be asked to clean hospital wards, assist outpatient departments, move trolleys, or provide clerical support in government libraries, legal aid cells, and district or taluka offices.
Hospitals may also assign specialised tasks. Duties requiring medical knowledge may be given if the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) or Dean finds them suitable.
In government schools and colleges, offenders may clean classrooms, libraries, laboratories and school grounds. Municipal bodies may assign waste removal, maintenance work, roadside weed clearance and beach cleaning.
Other tasks include traffic and crowd control, upkeep of police premises, and service in old-age homes, mental health institutions, hostels and social welfare buildings.
Each type of work must be authorised by the concerned department officer, such as the RMO/Dean, Librarian, Principal, Commissioner, BDO or Ranger. Monitoring will be handled by the District Probation Officer or another officer appointed by the State Government. Courts may also order any additional duties they find suitable for a particular case.
