Bill to protect journos from violence gets nod

Panaji: The cabinet on Wednesday granted its approval for the implementation of the Goa State Journalist Protection bill, 2022, to ensure the safety of journalists in exercising freedom of speech and expression. The bill will be introduce in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
The bill considers violent attacks on mediapersons a non-bailable offence. The offence shall be cognisable (that is, police have the authority to make an arrest without a warrant, and to start an investigation with or without the permission of a court), and can be tried by a JMFC.
The cabinet note said that there have been umpteen instances of violence and attacks against mediapersons and damage or loss to the property of mediapersons or media institutions, thereby, a need is felt to prevent such violence.
The government thus decided to enact a law similar to the Maharashtra Media Persons and Media Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2017.
The note also said that a police officer not below the rank of police inspector of the police station concerned shall investigate any offence under this Act, and anyone who commits or attempts to commit any act of violence against journalists or media houses will be punished with a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to Rs 50,000.
The cabinet note said that the offender shall be liable to pay compensation for damage or loss caused to the property or mediaperson or media institution as determined by a court.
The bill also provides for misuse. “In case any mediaperson willfully misuses the provision of this Act, he/she can be punished for making a false complaint,” the cabinet note said. It also said that action under the proposed Act will be in addition to the action taken under any other law for the time being in force.