The decision of the Goa Government to invoke the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 appears to be a cruel illegal joke on the State of Goa when our State is already reeling under the pangs of economic meltdown with the poor economy and now, with the pandemic virus which has afflicted the world.
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 is a British Law enforced in India, at a time when Goa was not a part of India as it was then. Goa was incorporated as a territory of the Union of India on 19 December, 1961 upon its Liberation.
Pre-liberation laws in force in the rest of India had to be extended to Goa, which was done by the Goa, Daman & Diu Laws Regulation No 1 of 1961 and No 2 of 1962. Certain other legislations were extended to Goa through special notifications by the Central Government.
A search has revealed that this Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 was never ever extended to Goa. How could Health Minister Vishwajit Rane issue any directions under a law which is not enforced in the State? Who misled or misguided the Health Minister to rush to make this declaration? Even if the Central Government has issued advisory, the State Government ought to have examined it – with its pros and cons – without jumping into panic mode, and realised that our Goa Health Act, 1985 has all the powers which could be invoked, without such dramatic announcement to deal with such situations, which announcement has only depressed the mood of the State and causes further loss to the economy with such immature and ill advised announcements. Will Vishwajit Rane hang his boots or push the blame on some official and make that person a scapegoat? Let us await and watch.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
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