Govt may bring in bills to decriminalise 81 offences in sections of various acts

Panaji: The state government is likely to introduce bills to decriminalise around 81 offences in sections of various acts. Initially, the state government has identified around 180 sections for decriminalisation, to improve ease of living.
“The chief secretary apprised the CM on decriminalisation of the state Acts, and stated that 81 provisions for the same have been identified. The secretaries are working with the concerned heads of department on the same. All these amendments will need the approval of the assembly,” the chief minister’s office said.
A senior official said that once the process is completed, the proposal would be placed before the cabinet. “Once the cabinet approves the proposal, the bills would be introduced in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly,” he said.
The monsoon session is slated to commence on July 11.
These sections in question are spread across various laws and rules pertaining to tourism, education, health, revenue, PWD, agriculture, mines, labour, water resources development, panchayats, forests, and town and country planning, among others.
The sections identified for decriminalising attract imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines up to Rs 2 lakh.
The senior official said that in some sections, the government may remove the provision for imprisonment, while the penalty may be increased. He said that some files are already moved to the government for amendment, and some are being reviewed by the chief secretary.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that laws that create hurdles in ease of doing business and ease of living would be eliminated.
The acts and rules whose sections have been identified include The Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act, 1995, The Goa, Daman and Diu Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 and rules 1985, The School Education Act 1984, The Goa Tillari Irrigation Development Corporation Act 1999, The Goa Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1988, The Goa Provision of Water Supply Act 2003, Goa Industrial Development Act, 1965, The Goa Education Development Corporation Act, 2003, The Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988, The Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, The Goa Public Gambling Act 1976, The City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, and the Goa (Prevention Of Illegal Mining, Storage And Transportation Of Minerals) Rules, 2013, among others.
Union cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, in a letter to the chief minister, said that it has now been decided to focus on decriminalisation of provisions of imprisonment for minor violations.