TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Personal assistant to Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva Elvis Gomes has petitioned the Prescribed Authority to delete names of former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, wife Fatima, son Savio and four daughters from the electoral rolls on grounds they have ceased to be Indian citizens after allegedly registering their births in Portugal.
In his petition filed before the Prescribed Authority, government of India under section 9 (2), Elvis, who is a resident of Colva and a voter of Benaulim constituency, claimed that Churchill applied to the Central office of Registration, Lisbon, and got his marriage registered on February 18, 2009 vide registration of Marriage No 138 of the year 2009. “Churchill received his marriage certificate on January 5, 2009, and within a period of 44 days got his marriage registered at Central office of Registration, Lisbon. He cannot register his marriage as has been done vide registration of marriage No 138 of 2009 at central office of Registration, Lisbon dated February 18, 2009, unless his birth has been registered. This shows the influence Churchill has used to get the registration, as the same has been done within a period of 44 days”, Elvis stated in his complaint.
The complaint further stated that while wife Fatima registered his birth in Portugal on December 15, 2008, son Savio and daughters, Sara, Aninha, Sharon and Wanda registered theirs on a single day on September 22, 2009.
Elvis further pointed out that the act of registration of birth at the Central office of registration by Churchill and family makes them Portuguese nationals since they have ceased to be Indian citizens effectively from the date of their registration in Portugal.
He stated that Churchill and his six family members are not entitled to be on the electoral rolls and are disqualified as per section 15 (1) (a) and (2) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1950, and have thus illegally voted in the 2012 Benaulim constituency election on March 6, 2012, for the Legislative Assembly of the state of Goa.
Elvis claimed that all the seven persons have illegally acquired Indian passports and are liable to be charged under section 12 of
the Passport Act, adding that the seven have committed offences under section 14 of the Foreigners Act, Section 4 & 5 of the Registration of Foreigners
Act, apart from other relevant sections of the Indian Penal code.
