The decision by the Goa Government to carve out two new police districts in the State may not have the required backing of the law. Possibly it has not been examined by the law department.
The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) clearly defines a district as a revenue district. So unless the CrPC is amended by Parliament to redefine a district, this move by the Government to make Mapusa and Ponda the two new police districts will be in bypassing the law. Since Goa has two districts, the Government could contemplate having two SPs in each district and designate their specific roles.
Goa is a very small State and the police can perform well if there is no political interference in its functioning. The Police Establishment Board which was set up on the directions of the Supreme Court has lost its sanctity with ruling ministers and MLAs having police officials of their choice posted in their area.
Not long ago the government had decided to have two police inspectors at every police station, one to deal with law & order and the other in charge of investigating crimes. But that has not been pursued. Merely forming new districts is by no stretch of imagination going to improve policing.
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
