PRESS RELEASE

CIVIL LIBERTIES IN PERIL: RIGHTS GROUPS URGE
OPEN DISCUSSION ON NEW POLICE BILL 2008

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) express their serious disappointment in the Select Committee on the Police Bill 2008 of the Goa State Assembly who has failed to hold public debates and consultations on the draft Goa Police Bill 2008 and invite public submissions on the type of police service communities want.

It is widely accepted that it is untenable to continue to police the Citizens of India under the Police Act of 1861, which was drafted by the colonial authorities. Though we welcomed the initiative to introduce the Goa Police Bill which was intended to provide the people of Goa with better policing, however, the Bill in its present form has several defects. It does not reflect the principles of democratic policing; it undermines civil liberties, gives additional power to the police without ensuring the requisite accountability. All these factors together ensure that police functioning will not improve and will continue to remain a force that imposes law instead of becoming a service that upholds the law.

The Supreme Court of India in its 2006 judgment, Prakash Singh and Others vs. Union of India and Others had directed the Central and all State governments to implement six directives which would kick start the reform process. These directives were aimed at giving functional responsibility to the police in matters of administration while remaining under the supervision of the political executive and also ensuring that public complaints are addressed and police accountability is enhanced. Goa implemented these directives conditionally.

The Draft Police Bill was introduced in the legislature in August 2008. The bill was then referred to a select committee soon thereafter. The mandate of the select committee was to examine the Bill and come up with its report. Several Citizen groups and individuals requested the Select Committee to hold public debate to gather the say of the people. This has not been acted upon.

Communities are the beneficiaries of good policing and the main victims of bad policing. We reiterate our demand to encourage the participation of the community in the process of enacting Laws.

Sincerely Yours,

Fr. Maverick Fernandes
Executive Secretary
CSJP