The Goa Habitual Offenders Act, 1976

GOVERNMENT OF GOA Law & Judiciary Department

Notification

LD/Bill/5/76

The following Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu which received the assent of the President of India on 5 th

August, 1976 is hereby published for general information.

B. S. Subbanna, Draftsman.

Panaji, 20th August, 1976.

The Goa Habitual Offenders Act, 1976 (Act No. 16 of 1976) [5 th August, 1976] AN ACT to make better provision for the treatment and training of habitual offenders and for certain other matters. Whereas it is expedient to make better provision for the treatment and training of habitual offenders, and for certain other matters. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman & Diu in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Preliminary

1. (1) This Act may be called the Goa 1[Omitted] Habitual Offenders Act, 1976.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; Central Act 2 of 1974
2. (b) “corrective settlement” means any place established, approved or certified as a corrective settlement under section 14;
3. (c) “district” means the area declared as a district under the provisions of section 3 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968; 9 of 1969
4. (d) “District Magistrate” means, in relation to the District of Goa, the District Magistrate of Goa, or, in relation to the District of Daman or Diu, any officer empowered in this behalf by the Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers of a District Magistrate under this Act;
5. (e) “Government” means the Government of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu;
6. (f) “habitual offender” means any person who, since his attaining the age of eighteen years, has during any consecutive period (whether before or after the commencement of this Act, or partly before and partly after such commencement) of five years, been sentenced on conviction, on not less than three occasions, to a substantive term of imprisonment for one or more of the scheduled offences

committed on separate occasions, being offences which are not connected together as to form parts of the same transaction and such sentence has not been reversed in appeal or revision. Explanation.— In computing the consecutive period of five years aforesaid, any period spent in jail either under a sentence of imprisonment or under detention shall not be taken into account,

1. (g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
2. (h) “registered offender” means a habitual offender registered or re-registered under this Act;
   • (i) “scheduled offence” means an offence specified in the Schedule or an offence analogous thereto;
3. (j) “Superintendent of Police” means any officer appointed by the Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to perform the duties of a Superintendent of Police under this Act.

Registration of habitual offenders and restriction of their movements

The Government may direct the District Magistrate to make a register of habitual offenders within his district, by entering therein the names and other prescribed particulars of such offenders.

For the purpose of carrying out the direction given under section 3, the District Magistrate or any officer authorised by him in this behalf shall, by notice in the prescribed form to be served in the prescribed manner, call upon every habitual offender in the district—

1. (a) to appear before him at a time and place specified in the notice;
2. (b) to furnish such information as may be necessary to enable him to enter the name and other prescribed particulars of the habitual offender in the register; and
3. (c) to allow the finger and palm impressions, foot prints and photographs of the habitual offender to be taken: Provided that the name and other prescribed particulars of a habitual offender shall not be entered in the register, unless he has been given reasonable opportunity of showing cause why such entry should not be made.

1. (1) The register shall be placed in the keeping of the Superintendent of Police of the district who shall, from time to time, report to the District Magistrate any alterations which ought, in his opinion, to be made therein.
2. (2) After the register has been placed in the keeping of the Superintendent of Police, no fresh entry shall be made in the register, nor shall any entry be cancelled except by or under, an order in writing of the District Magistrate.

The District Magistrate, or any officer authorised by him in this behalf, may at any time order the finger and palm impressions, footprints and photographs, of any registered offender to be taken.

1. (1) Every registered offender shall notify to such authority, and in such manner, as may be prescribed, any change or intended change of his ordinary residence: Provided that where such offender changes, or intends to change, his ordinary

residence to another district (whether within the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu or not), he shall notify the change or intended change to the District Magistrate.

1. (2) The District Magistrate may, by order in writing, direct that any registered offender shall—
   • (a) report himself once in each month, or where the District Magistrate for reasons specified in the order so directs, more frequently, to such authority, and in such manner, as may be specified in the order, and
   • (b) notify any absence or intended absence from his ordinary residence to the aforesaid authority: Provided that the District Magistrate may exempt any such offender from notifying any absence or intended absence from his ordinary residence for such period, and under such conditions as to him appear reasonable.

(1) Where any registered offender changes his ordinary residence to another district within the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, the District Magistrate of the district in which the offender is registered shall inform the District Magistrate of the other district of such change, and at the same time furnish him with the name and other particulars relating to the registered offender in the register.

1. (2) On the receipt of such information, the District Magistrate of the other district shall enter in his register the name and other particulars of the registered offender furnished to him, and inform the District Magistrate of the first district of such registration, and thereupon such District Magistrate shall cancel from his register the entry relating to that registered offender: Provided that where a registered offender changes his ordinary residence to another

district outside the Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu, the District Magistrate of the first district shall, while furnishing the District Magistrate of the other district with the name and other particulars of the registered offender, make a request to that District Magistrate that he may be informed of the steps, if any, which may have been taken in relation to the offender under any law for the time being in force in that other district; and upon the receipt of such information, the District Magistrate of the first district shall cancel from his register the entry relating to that registered offender.

1. (3) Upon the entry of the name and other particulars of a registered offender in any register in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu under sub-section (2), the

provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply to him as if he has been registered, in pursuance of a direction given under section 3, in the register of the district to which he has changed his ordinary residence.

1. (1) Subject

to the provisions of sub-section (3), the registration of a habitual offender under this Act shall, unless earlier cancelled, cease to be in force on the expiry of five years from the date of such registration, and on such cancellation or expiry, the habitual offender shall cease to be registered offender.

1. (2) Notwithstanding the cancellation, or expiry of duration of registration, a habitual offender may be re-registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to registration, as often as he is convicted of one or more of the scheduled offences at any time after such cancellation or expiry; and subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the re-registration shall, unless earlier cancelled, cease to be in force on the expiry of five years from the date of such re-registration.
2. (3) Where a registered offender is, during the period of registration or re-registration,

convicted of one or more of the scheduled offences and sentenced to a substantive term of imprisonment, the duration of registration or re-registration shall be extended for a period of five years from the date of his release from such imprisonment.

1. (1) Any person aggrieved by the registration, or re-registration, of his name under section 4, or as the case may be, section 9, or by an order under sub-section (2) of section 7, may within the prescribed period make a representation to the Government against such registration, re-registration or order.
2. (2) The Government shall, after considering the representation, and giving the aggrieved person an opportunity of being heard, either confirm or cancel the registration, re-registration or order, as the case may be, and shall in the case of confirmation record a brief statement of the reasons therefor.

1. (1) If in the opinion of the Government it is necessary or expedient in the interest of the general public so to do, the Government may, subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), by order direct that any

registered offender shall be restricted in his movements to such area, and for such period not exceeding three years, as may be specified in the order.

1. (2) Before making any such order the Government shall take into consideration the following matters, that is to say,—
   • (a) the nature of the offences of which the registered offender has been convicted, and the circumstances in which the offences were committed;
   • (b) whether the registered offender follows any lawful occupation, and whether such occupation is conducive to an honest and settled way of life and is not merely a pretence for the purpose of facilitating the commission of crime;
   • (c) the suitability of the area to which his movements are to be restricted; and
   • (d) the manner in which the registered offender may earn his living within the restricted area, and the adequacy of arrangements which are, or are likely to be, available therefor.
2. (3) A copy of the order shall be served on the registered offender in the prescribed manner.
3. (4) The period specified in an order under sub-section (1) shall in no case extend beyond the period of registration or re-registration as the case may be, referred to in section 9.

The Government may, by order, cancel any order made under section 11, or alter any area specified in an order under that section: Provided that before making such order, the Government shall consider the matters referred to in sub-section (2) of section 11 in so far as they may be applicable.

(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the powers of the Government under sections 11 and 12 may be exercised also by a Magistrate having power to act under section 110 of the Code, but without prejudice to the exercise of his powers under that section of the Code.

1. (2) A Magistrate acting under section 11 or 12 shall follow, as nearly as may be, the procedure laid down in sections 111, 112, 113, 114 and 116 of the Code for an order requiring security for good behaviour: Provided that the order in writing referred to in section 111 of the Code shall, in addition to setting forth the substance of the information received, state the term, not exceeding three years, during which the order of restriction shall be in force.
2. (3) Where the Government has already made an order under section 11 in respect of a

habitual offender, the Magistrate shall not exercise any powers conferred by this section in respect of the same habitual offender, during any period in which the order of the Government is in force.

Corrective training of habitual offenders

1. (1) For the purpose of placing therein such habitual offenders as are directed to receive corrective training under this Act, the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish and maintain in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu as many corrective settlements as it thinks fit.
2. (2) The Government may also approve or certify any privately managed institution (whether known as a settlement or otherwise) as a corrective settlement for the purposes of this Act.

1. (1) When the Government is satisfied from the report of the District Magistrate or otherwise, that it is expedient with a view to the reformation of a registered offender and the prevention of crime, that the registered offender should receive training of a corrective character for a substantial period, the Government may by order in writing direct that the registered offender shall receive training of a corrective character for such period, not exceeding the duration of his registration or re-registration, as may be specified in the order.
2. (2) Where a habitual offender, who is not more than forty years of age,—
   • (a) is convicted of any offence punishable with imprisonment, or
   • (b) is required in pursuance of section 110 of the Code to execute a bond for his good behaviour, and the Court or the Magistrate is satisfied from the evidence in the case and other materials on record that it is expedient with a view to his reformation and the prevention of crime, that he should receive training of a corrective character, for a substantial period, the Court or the Magistrate may, in lieu of sentencing him for such offence or, as the case may be, requiring him to execute such bond, direct that he shall receive

corrective training for such term of not less than two and not more than five years, as the Court or the Magistrate may determine.

1. (3) Before giving any direction under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the Government, the Court or the Magistrate, as the case may be, shall—
   • (a) consult the officer, prescribed on the capacity of the corrective settlements to receive the habitual offender;
   • (b) take into consideration the physical and mental condition of the offender, and his suitability for receiving corrective training in a corrective settlement; and
   • (c) give a reasonable opportunity to the offender to show cause why such direction should not be given.
2. (4) A habitual offender, in respect, of whom a direction to receive corrective training has been made, shall be placed in a corrective settlement for the term of his training, and while in such settlement shall be treated in such manner and receive such training as may be prescribed.

The Government, or any officer authorised by it in this behalf, may at any time by order in writing direct any habitual offender who may be in a corrective settlement to be transferred to another corrective settlement or to be discharged therefrom; and accordingly he shall be so transferred or, as the case may be, discharged.

Penalties and procedure

A habitual offender who without lawful excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie upon him,—

1. (a) fails to appear in compliance with a notice issued under section 4, or
2. (b) intentionally omits to furnish any information required under that section, or furnishes as true any information which he knows, or has reason to believe, to be false or does not believe to be true, or
3. (c) refuses to allow his finger and palm impressions, foot-prints and photographs to be taken by any person acting under an order passed under section 6, or
4. (d) fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 7 or with an order of the District Magistrate under sub-section (2) thereof or with an order under section 11, may be arrested without warrant, and shall be punished —
   • (i) on first conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both, and
   • (ii) on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both: Provided that, if the Court, after taking into consideration the offender’s age and physical and mental condition and his suitability for receiving training of a corrective character in a corrective settlement, is satisfied that it is expedient with a view to his reformation and the prevention of crime, that he should receive training of a corrective character for a substantial period, the Court may, in lieu of sentencing the offender to any punishment under this section, direct, after giving him an opportunity of showing cause (and after consulting the officer prescribed on the capacity of the corrective settlements to receive him) that he shall receive corrective training in a corrective settlement for such term not exceeding three years, as it may determine.

If any habitual offender —

1. (a) is found outside the area to which his movements have been restricted in contravention of the conditions under which he is permitted to leave such area, or
2. (b) escapes from any corrective settlement in which he is placed, he may be arrested without warrant by a police-officer, and taken before a Magistrate who, on proof of the facts, may order him to be removed to such area or to such corrective settlement, there to be dealt with in accordance with this Act and the rules made thereunder.

(1) Whoever, being a person in respect of whom a direction has been made under section 11, or section 15, and having been convicted of any of the scheduled offences falling under

Part I of the Schedule is convicted of the same or of any other scheduled offence falling in that Part shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years.

1. (2) Nothing in this section shall affect the liability of such person to any further or other punishment to which he may be liable under the Indian Penal Code or any other law. Central Act 45 of 1860.

Whoever, being a person in respect of whom a direction has been made under section 11, or section 15, is found in any place under such circumstances as to satisfy the Court —

1. (a) that he was about to commit, or aid in the commission of, theft or robbery, or
2. (b) that he was making preparation for committing theft or robbery, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.

If a police officer having an opportunity to arrest any person under section 18, fails to arrest him in circumstances which are not beyond his control, he shall on conviction be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may be extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Miscellaneous

No court shall question the validity of any direction or order issued under this Act.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Government or any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Act except the power under section 25 may also be exercised subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the notification, by such officer not below the rank of a District Magistrate as may be specified therein.

1. (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :—
   • (a) the form of notice under section 4 and the manner in which such notice may be served;
   • (b) the form of the register of habitual offenders and the particulars to be entered therein;
   • (c) the authority to whom and the manner in which any change or intended change of ordinary residence shall be notified under sub-section (1) of section 7;
   • (d) the nature of restrictions to be observed by registered offenders whose movements have been restricted;
   • (e) the grant of certificate of identity to registered offenders and inspection of such certificates;
   • (f) the conditions under which the offenders may be permitted to leave the area to which their movements have been restricted or the corrective settlements in which they have been placed;
   • (g) the terms upon which offenders may be discharged from corrective settlements;
   • (h) the working, management, control and supervision of corrective settlements including the discipline and conduct of persons placed therein;
     • (i) the conditions for, and the manner of, approving or certifying privately managed settlements;
   • (j) the appointment of non-official visitors for corrective settlements;
   • (k) the conditions and circumstances under which members of the family of a habitual offender may be permitted to stay with him in a corrective settlement;
   • (l) the periodical review of the cases of all persons whose movements have been restricted or who are placed in corrective settlements under this Act;
   • (m) any other matter which is to be, or may be prescribed, under this Act.
3. (3) In making rules under this Act the Government may provide that a contravention of any of the rules shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
4. (4) Every rule made under this Act shall, as soon as may be, after it is made, be laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the rule or decides that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

Nothing in this Act shall affect the powers of any competent authority under any law for the time being in force to make an order of restriction or detention, and any order passed or direction made under this Act in so far as it conflicts with any order made by a competent authority under such law shall be deemed to be inoperative while the order under such law remains in force.

1. (1) Any law in force in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu or any area thereof corresponding to any of the provisions of this Act or any part thereof shall stand repealed as from the date of coming into force of this Act.
2. (2) The provisions of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (as made applicable to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu by section 2 of the Goa, Daman and Diu General Clauses Act, 1965) shall apply to the repeal under sub-section (1) as if the laws referred to therein were enactments. Central Act 10 of 1897 7 of 1965

I Offences under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) CHAPTER XII Sections. 231 Counterfeiting coin. 232 Counterfeiting Indian coin. 233 Making or selling instruments for counterfeiting coin. 234 Making or selling instruments for counterfeiting Indian coin. 235 Possession of instrument or material for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin. 239 Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeited. 240 Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeited. 242 Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof. Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof. CHAPTER XVI 304 Culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 307 Attempt to murder. 308 Attempt to commit culpable homicide. 311 Being a thug. 324 Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means. 325 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt. 326 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. 327 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act. 328 Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit offence. 329 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or constrain to an illegal act. 332 Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty. 333 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty. 347 Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act. 365 Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person. 366A. Procuration of minor girl. 366B. Importation of girl from foreign country. 368 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person. 369 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person. 379 Theft. 380 Theft in dwelling house, etc. 382 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft. 384 Extortion. 385 Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion. 386 Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt. 387 Putting a person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion. 392 Robbery. 393 Attempt to commit robbery. 394 Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery. 395 Dacoity. 397 Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt. 398 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon. 399 Making preparation to commit dacoity. 400 Belonging to a gang of dacoits. 401 Belonging to a gang of thieves. 402 Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity. 411 Dishonestly receiving stolen property. 414 Assisting in concealment of stolen property. 451 House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment. 452 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint. 453 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking. 454 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment. 455 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint. 456 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night. 457 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment. 458 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint. 459 Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house-breaking. 460 All persons jointly concerned in lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night punishable where death or grievous hurt caused by one of them. II Offence under the Suppression of Immoral Traffic In Women and Girls Act, 1956 (Central Act 104 of 1956) 4 Living on the earning of prostitution. Secretariat, K.C.D. GANGWANI, Panaji, Secretary to the Government of Goa, 20th August, 1976. Daman and Diu, Law and Judiciary Department. ___________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ The words “Daman and Diu” omitted vide Goa Act 20 of 2021.