the goan I network
PANAJI
The State administration on Friday partially modified the notification imposing section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to exclude religious feasts and functions besides official government events and sports competitions.
Additional Collector North Goa, Vikas Gaunekar issued the addendum on Friday and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later announced that religious functions such as feasts, Diwali related activities, private weddings, parties and other events will not be affected due to imposition of section 144. The addendum issued by Gaunekar, meanwhile, said citizens will have to take prior permission from their respective sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) for every function, including religious festivities.
Gaunekar, who is additional district magistrate, also issued instructions to all SDMs to permit events on a case-to-case basis after clearances from the police in that jurisdiction. The order also allows police clearance to be obtained telephonically or via email in cases of an exigency. “This being a festive season, there are possibilities of several religious processions, feasts, rallies, etc, the order provides for exemption on case-to-case basis. It is therefore enjoined upon all sub-divisional magistrates in North Goa to grant expeditious permissions to such events, processions, feasts, rallies in terms of the prohibitory orders,” the memo issued by Gaunekar said.
The order imposing Section 144 across the State was issued on Thursday for the next 30 days in anticipation of possible trouble due to the verdict on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute expected to be delivered by the Supreme Court on Saturday.
Govt misusing sec 144 to prevent public uproar: Cong
PANAJI: The Congress on Friday alleged that the government has misused section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code just to prevent a public uproar against Mhadei and other issues. “We have to cancel our Mhadei Zagor agitation which was planned in Mapusa on Friday since section 144 has been imposed and we have decided not to have any agitation till section 144 is lifted,” said GPCC president Girish Chodankar.
Meanwhile, the Congress party also demanded that the government give an affidavit in court stating that they will delete the amended sec 16 B in the Town and Country Planning Act.
Girish alleged that while the government was stating that section 16B was introduced to help poor people, paddy fields, cultivable land, natural zone land has been converted.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday also decided to fight the zilla panchayat elections on party lines and demanded for a common symbol to all its candidates. It also decided to run an application based registration drive.
While commenting on the allegations of Sawant buying land in Dodamarg, Girish said that when the chief minister buys land while in position, fear is created in the mind of people -- that he may compromise the interest of the State for his personal gains.
