Govt informs GHRC that Sancoale Police station not being inaugurated on 15th August

0
69

The Government today submitted before the full bench of the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) headed by retired Justice U. V. Bakre and comprising of former District Judges Desmond D’Costa and Pramod Kamat that the proposed Sancoale Police Station will not be inaugurated on 15th August.

South Goa SP Pankaj Kumar Singh in his written reply submitted on behalf of the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police has stated that the inauguration of the Police Station would be scheduled only after the availability of all the facilities and the requisite notification being issued by the State Government.

Further stating that the Police Station will be inaugurated only after all the basic facilities have been provided, SP Pankaj Kumar Singh in his reply has also informed the GHRC that applications are being made to the concerned authorities for electricity and water connections and that the parking space will be developed before inauguration of the Police Station.

Drawing the attention of the GHRC that the inauguration was unlawfully first planned on February 27th on the occasion of local MLA Alina Saldanha’s birthday and now hurriedly on August 15th, Adv. Aires Rodrigues sought action against officers functioning unlawfully contrary to law.

While allowing Adv. Rodrigues to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by SP Pankaj Kumar Singh, the GHRC adjourned the hearing to September 7th.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues in his complaint to the GHRC had stated that despite an undertaking given by the Chief Secretary on March 15th, the authorities were trying to hurriedly and haphazardly inaugurate the Sancoale Police Station on 15th August at the old electricity department quarters which were abandoned for around two decades and in a very dilapidated condition.

Stating that this was in gross violation of the Human Rights of the staff and people who would visit the police station, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint questioned as to how this very small premises would cater to a police force of 40 which is the minimum staff that would be required to run the Police Station.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint also stated that the authorities were acting unlawfully in breach of law as the setting up of a new police station needs to be first notified in the official gazette and the jurisdiction of the new police station has to be also specified in terms of Section 2(s) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Pointing out that the guidelines on setting up of Police stations laid down by the Bureau of Police Research and Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs had also not been adhered to, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint expressed concern for the health and well being of the police staff besides the public that would be visiting the police station.

Adv. Rodrigues also drew the attention of the GHRC that the proposed Sancoale Police Station did not have water, electricity supply nor proper parking facilities and that while on account of the reckless tearing hurry no structural plans had been prepared and the repair works not tendered as required.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint also submitted that the Sancoale Police Station should be inaugurated only after all the formalities besides the required infrastructure and necessary amenities were in place, as that Police Station would have to cater to a very huge population of over 25,000 comprising residents of the Panchayats of Cortalim, Sancoale, Cansaulim-Arrosim-Cuelim and Velsao-Pale.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here