PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
EXTRAORDINARY
GOVERNMENT OF GOA
Department of Home
Home—General Division
Office of the Collector & District Magistrate, South Goa —— Order
No. 31/58/2020/ZP Elections/2259 firearms, ammunition lethal weapons, in any public place, street, road squares, through fare, by lanes, or in any open place in entire District of South Goa with immediate effect until further orders;
U/S 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
Whereas, the Goa State Election Commission announced the schedule for General Elections to Zilla Panchayats of North and South Goa District on 22nd March, 2020 and the Election Code of Conduct has come into force on announcement of the said schedule. Therefore, as directed by the Goa State Election Commission, the District Administration is required to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of Zilla Panchayat Elections of South Goa District;
And whereas, in my considered opinion there is sufficient ground for proceeding under sub section (1) of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, and impose ban for carrying of all type of arms, firearms, and other lethal weapons, to ensure free, fair peaceful, and orderly conduct of the Election process and to prevent obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed or cause danger to human life, or safety, or disturbance of public tranquillity or riot, of any affray during the electioneering;
And whereas, I am satisfied that the circumstances do not permit serving of the notices individually in time to all the licensed arms holders in South Goa District;
Now therefore, I, Ajit Roy, IAS, District Magistrate, South Goa District, Margao, in exercise of the powers vested in me under Section 144 of Cr. P. C., 1973 do hereby prohibit the carrying of all type of arms, Further, all the arm license holders in South Goa District are hereby directed to deposit all their firearms at the nearest Police Station of their respective jurisdiction with effect from 24-02-2020. All the firearms deposited will be returned to the license holder after five days from counting i.e. after the Election process is over;
Further, it is also made known that, if any persons has a real threat to his or her person/ /property, he/she should approach the Director General of Police, for providing necessary security by the Police, but under no circumstances will any person be allowed to carry his own personal licensed firearms or otherwise except with special permission or exemption granted by the undersigned;
However, the above restrictions shall not apply to Public Servants, Police, Defense Personnel and Security Personnel on duty/Sports persons who are members of National Rifle Association of India, Responsible persons of Banks and its retainers, and to those members of the community who are entitled to display weapons by long standing law, custom and usage, unless they are found to be indulging in violence or posing a threat to the maintenance of law and order and peaceful conduct of elections;
Given under my hand and seal of this Office on
this 24th day of February, 2020.
Ajit Roy, IAS
District Magistrate & Zilla Panchayat
Election Officer, South Goa.
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