Team Herald
PANJIM: As the deadline to inform the court about the status on the commissioning of the Detention Centre inches closer, the authorities have attributed the delay to the ongoing election model code of conduct but assured to complete the work soon after the code is lifted.
It may be recalled that the facility has been caught in multiple issues like installation of closed circuit television cameras and other electronic devices. “The structure is mostly ready. Due to the code of conduct, the officials of Info-Tech have not been able to carry out certain works such as installing CCTVs in and around the facility, fixing television, etc. Once all the welfare measures are in place, a report will be submitted to Goa Police informing about the works’ completion,” said a senior officer of the Department of Social Welfare.
On the other hand, the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office claimed that Detention Centre has been commissioned. “Presently there are no foreigners who are to be deported; however, the facility is already functional,” said a police officer.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa, in March had directed the State government to commission the centre within three months and submit a compliance report by June.
“The Respondents, including in particular, Respondent Numbers 1 (State through Calangute police), 2 (State through Pernem police) and 5 (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) are directed to make the Detention Centre constituted by order dated February 7, 2019 at the Old Judicial Lock Up at Mapusa, fully operational by providing necessary infrastructure and staff, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case, within a period of three months from today. FRRO is directed to file an affidavit of compliance on or before June 3, 2019, in this Court,” the bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice Nutan Sardessai had ordered while disposing of its suo motu writ petition.
The court has also directed the police department to take emergent steps in order to deport foreign nationals in Goa, who have no proper or valid travel documents or whose visa terms have expired among other similar reasons, where there are no legal impediments for taking such steps. A compliance report indicating the statistics status of the action/steps taken in this regard is also to be submitted on or before June 3, 2019.
Earlier in February, the government had issued an order notifying the old Mapusa judicial lock-up as the detention centre stating, “The government of Goa hereby requires the illegal immigrants/foreign nationals awaiting deportation to reside in the Detention Centre at old judicial lock-up at Mapusa next to the Mapusa police station.”
