Thursday, September 25, 2008

CHARTERS WARNED:Drunken tourists to be sent back

CHARTERS WARNED
Drunken tourists to be sent back
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: The immigration department of the Goa police has made it clear to charter and tour operators in the state that if any foreign tourist creates nuisance at the airport under the influence of alcohol then it (immigration department) may even issue a ‘request to leave’ (RTL) notice to the concerned airlines.
At a meeting of all charter and tour operators on Wednesday at the police headquarters — to discuss various issues related to charter flights for the season from October to May 2009 — the SP (immigration), Tony Fernandes, said, “During the last charter season it was noted that many passengers, particularly from Russia, arrived under heavy influence of alcohol and created nuisance in the arrival bay. Immigration reserves the right to accept or reject
such passengers and if required issue a RTL notice to the concerned airlines.”
The police have also asked for an advance list of charter flights to be operated by different flight operators with dates and arrival and departure timings.

September 25,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition

Goa DGP seeks to curb political transfers

DGP seeks to curb political transfers
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Police officers seeking transfers through political pressure may not get them this time. Stymieing transfer moves by police officers before the tourist season, DGP B S Brar in a letter to the chief secretary said that “the Police Establishment Board continues to receive number of requests asking for transfer, but the operation officers have to serve a minimum tenure of two years”.
The letter goes on to say that “the home department may circulate the concerned portion of an SC judgment (in this regard) to all concerned”. Senior police officials admit that Brar’s note would have a dual effect. “It will put an end to the number of police officials approaching politicians to ensure a transfer before the tourist season. This would end the phenomenon of frequent and indiscriminate transfers ordered on political considerations,” said an official. Transfer guidelines for cops as per SC
Panaji: The state DGP B S Brar has written a letter to the chief secretary stating “the Police Establishment Board continues to receive number of requests asking for transfer, but the operation officers have to serve a minimum tenure of two years.”
When contacted, Brar said he was following orders of the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh and others versus the Union of India case. “As per the Supreme Court guidelines, SP in charge of a district and police inspector incharge of a police station can’t be transferred unless they have completed two years.”
According to the Supreme Court judgement, an IGP, an SP in charge of district and station house officer incharge of a police station, “shall have a prescribed minimum tenure of two year unless it is found necessary to remove them prematurely following disciplinary proceedings against them or their conviction in a criminal offence or in a case of corruption or if the incumbent is otherwise incapacitated from discharging his responsibilities.”
Said DGP Brar, “This two year tenure is essential as the officers have developed a knowledge of the area and the people, and shouldn’t be disturbed, for effective policing and police-community relations.”
Police sources admit that during the month of September there had been an increased interaction of police officers with politicians to ensure plum postings, especially in tourism areas. “There has been increased pressure on the police headquarters from politicians to transfer police officials to hot police stations before the onset of tourist season,” said a senior police official. But Brar is firm that the two year rule shall be strictly enforced.
Meanwhile, IGP Kishan Kumar at an interaction with the beat constables of North Goa on Monday evening said that the success of the beat system would be achieved only if the beat constables are not transferred for at least two years.

September 25,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition