Auxiliary police plan sparks row in Goa

PANAJI, MAY 20: Goa Police Bill, 1995, will make the state the first in the country to privatise police powers. But the Bill, which was pas...

PANAJI, MAY 20: Goa Police Bill, 1995, will make the state the first in the country to privatise police powers. But the Bill, which was passed by the Assembly recently, and is now awaiting the assent of State Governor P C Alexander, is greeted with cautious optimism and even outright scepticism by many. Many feel that by adopting such a measure the State Government is taking its privatisation drive too far.

The Bill, following a Singapore model, prohibits certain matters like spitting, smoking, urinating and throwing garbage in public places. Such acts will be dealt with stringent penalty and fines as well as imprisonment. But one provision which has become controversial is regarding the creation of an auxiliary police force.

Under this provision, employers of companies or other organisations will be empowered with police powers to safeguard life and property in specified areas. This auxiliary force can maintain law and order, preserve public peace, and prevent crime within that area.

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The powers of the auxiliary force are almost parallel to those wielded by the regular force.

The privately employed auxiliary policemen would have all police powers, protection and immunities of the regular force, and carry a warrant of appointment.

Reactions against this particular provision in the bill have been strong. Giving police powers to private security and detective agencies would be dangerous, since it could be misused, warns Goa’s former Inspector General of Police, Prabhakar Sinari. Powers available to private citizens under various Sections of IPC and Cr P C were just enough and no more powers were needed, he adds.

Advocate Ajay Tyagi is surprised that such an important measure was passed in the Assembly without much debate.

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The provision in the bill that the government shall not be liable for any act done or omitted to be done by auxiliary police force sounds offensive to taste, he observed.