PANAJI: The government on Tuesday introduced the Goa Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2010, aimed at setting up the commission to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state and matters connected therewith.

As per the provisions made in the bills the functions of the commissions include inquiring, suo motu or on a petition presented to it by a victim or by any person on his behalf, into complaints of violation of any rights provided in the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989, both central acts.
It would also be empowered to inquire into cases of negligence in prevention of such violations by a public servant, and also enquiring and recommending to the concerned disciplinary authority to initiate disciplinary action in cases where it was of view that public servant has been grossly negligent or indifferent in regard to the discharge of duties in relation to the protection of the interests of the SCs/STs.  
The commission would also have powers to investigate and monitor all matters related to the safeguards provided for the SCs/STs under the Constitution of India or under any other law and also to evaluate the working of various safeguards and civil rights accruing to a person as stipulated in the Protection of the Civil Rights Act. The bill was moved by the Social Welfare Minister, Mr Ramkrishna Dhavlikar.
The commission when set up would have powers of a civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect to summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of the state and examining him on oath; requiring the discovery and production of any document; receiving evidence on affidavits, requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office, issuing commissions for the examination or witnesses or documents, etc.
Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the government to constitute a body known as Goa Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by way of notification, while clause 5 would empower the government to appoint its chairperson. By virtue of clause 7 of the bill the government would be able to appoint offices and employees for the efficient performance and functions of the commission.