Aldona MLA slams police action against Goa Forward Party meeting as iIllegal’

Aldona MLA slams police action against Goa Forward Party meeting as iIllegal’

ALDONA: Congress Aldona MLA Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira on Sunday criticised the actions of the Canacona police inspector and their team for stopping a planned Goa Forward Party (GFP) meeting in Gaondongorim related to the Zilla Panchayat elections, branding the move as “completely illegal”.

The MLA also issued a stern warning to police officers, advising them “not to act beyond law”.

Ferreira stated that according to the Election Commission’s rules, sound permission is not required for a meeting conducted indoors.

He referenced online discussions regarding the incident, confirming his initial assessment that the police action was wrong.

“From what I gathered from the discussion in the video that circulated online is that there was an objection from the inspector that there was no sound permission taken for the meeting. I heard that they had permission for conducting the meeting. I was sure that something was wrong and I thought the action of the inspector was wrong,” he said.

Ferreira confirmed his interpretation after studying the relevant aspect of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) mentioned on the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Goa website.

He clarified that MCC rules stipulate that the party or candidate shall inform the police and other authorities concerned of the venue and time of any proposed meeting well in time so as to enable the police to make necessary arrangements for controlling traffic and maintaining peace.

“This means you do not have to seek permission from the Election Commission, you only have to inform the local police or other authorities concerned to make necessary arrangements for traffic and law and order,” he said.

Regarding sound permission, he noted the rule states “‘if permission or licence is to be obtained’… it does not say it requires to be obtained, for the use of loudspeakers, and other facilities.”

Ferreira further explained the general legal principle governing noise. “Under the sound pollution rules, the general law across the country is that if you are playing any music or anything with a sound system outdoors you need permissions and there are restrictions on your decibels and time limits. If it is indoors, it does not require any permission, and that is why this model rule is very clear.”

Given the venue, the MLA questioned the inspector’s intervention. “The meeting was being held in a hall, I don’t understand why the permission was required and how the inspector could have come and stopped by saying you don’t have permission for a loud speaker or sound system. According to me, the action of the inspector and his team is nothing short of a trespass, wrongful restraint and complete wrong act of stopping the event, preventing it from being held. Even his direction that not to hold the event without the sound system was wrong. The law is very clear and the action of the PI and his team is completely illegal,” he stated.

Ferreira advised the Goa Forward Party to “lodge a complaint against the police inspector and also seek damages for such a wrongful invasion of their rights”.

He suggested the police action appeared to be premeditated political interference.

“It seems to be it seems clear to us that it was a planned arrival. A planned attempt to disrupt and stop the meeting and ensure no such meetings are conducted. It means this policeman was asked to bend. I warn the police officers, don’t go beyond your law. Remember, this is a line which you must know where to draw and tell your political bosses that you are not permitted to do these things. I warn such police officers, you will be liable, you will be held responsible, and when it comes to defending these matters in court, none of these bosses of yours will turn up. They will desert you, they will disown you and you will have to stand in the box facing trial or prosecution and you will have to pay compensation and damages,” he said.