PANAJI
Violations of the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) will now attract longer jail terms and higher fines as the amendments passed by the Goa legislative assembly during the monsoon session got the gubernatorial assent and were notified in the official gazette.
Any person who commences a strike which is illegal under this Act or shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years (earlier it was six months), or with fine which may extend to one thousand (earlier it was two hundred rupees), or with both, states the amended Act.
The amendments have hiked fines which were earlier Rs 200 have been increased to Rs 1,000 and the Rs 1,000 fines will now be Rs 5000.
Similarly prison time stipulated for violations which were earlier six months have been increased to now three years.
Some of the violations listed in the Goa ESMA include, commencing strikes which are 'illegal' under the Act, instigating participation in strikes, financing strikes among others.
Also, all offences under Goa ESMA will now be cognizable and non-bailable. The violations can also attract both the penalties -- fines as well as imprisonment.
