MARGAO
The district authorities will tweak Section 144 of the CrPC in force in South Goa and the SOP on Covid protocols during the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) hearing on July 8 in South Goa, but the National Security Act (NSA) will remain in force without any dilution.
In fact, South Goa district Magistrate, Ruchika Katyal and district police chief Pankaj Kumar Singh sought to know from OSD to the Department Environment Sanjeev Joglekar in what way the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) wants the authorities to exempt the implementation of the National Security Act. The duo pointed out to Joglekar that the NSA has nothing to do with the hearing, with the SP (South) saying that anyone can be picked up even when NSA is not in force.
“What is the meaning of the relaxation that has been sought in respect of the NSA”, the district Magistrate questioned Joglekar when the high level team of officials descended at the SGDPA parking lot to review the arrangements for the July 8 hearing.
Even as Joglekar sought to defend by saying the demand has been raised in many quarters, the Collector then pointed out that the NSA has nothing to do with the July 8 hearing.
In fact, the Collector later told the media at the parking lot there’s no question of invoking the NSA during the hearing. “No, not at all”, was how Ruchika Katyal reacted when questioned if NSA will be implemented during the hearing.
“The whole purpose of the public hearing is to bring people here so that they put across their point of view. There is no breach of national security entailing the implementation of the NSA. Our objective is to put the arrangements in place so that the people are welcome to speak and to ensure there’s no law and order and no violation of Covid protocols during the hearing”, Katyal said, while confirming that the authorities will tweak section 144 of the CrPC and the SOP on Covid protocols in due course of time ahead of the July 8 public hearing.
