As reported on 18th February, 2020, the North Goa administration has withdrawn Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973- Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger after having faced backlash from the stakeholders of the tourism industry and opposition parties. The State government announced the withdrawal on Monday (February 17, 2020), nearly a week later after the tourism industry suffered a huge setback.
The said notification dated February 10th, 2020 had created fear and panic among the locals and the tourists with some people cancelling their travel plans to Goa. The recent circular states that the order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC stands withdrawn with immediate effect.
The stakeholders of the tourism industry and the opposition had also slammed the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led Government for the indiscrimante use or Section 144, particularly during the peak season.
The North Goa collector Gopal Parsekar added that the order had been issued as a precautionary measure to heighten alertness in order to impose tenant verifications before letting out the premise on lease, hire or rent basis.
The world-famous Goa Carnival begins on February 22, 2020.
Author: Dyuti Pandya
