Central govt returns GUJCOC seeking three amendments

The union cabinet Friday returned Gujarat’s anti-terror act, Gujarat Control of Organised Crime(GUJCOC) Act, seeking three amendments before it could be recommended to the president for acceptance.

“Under the proposed Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act, a confession before a police officer is admissible in a court. This should be made inadmissible,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters after a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The act also contains a clause stating that a court cannot grant bail if the public prosecutor opposes it. The court should have the power to grant bail even if the public prosecutor opposes it,” Chidambaram said.

The third amendment related to section 20 (2) of the act that the home minister did not specify.

“Once these amendments are effected, the cabinet will be in a position to recommend to the president to grant assent to the act,” Chidambaram said.