PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa was on Tuesday informed that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s signatures on official documents were allegedly being forged. Petitioner Trajano D’Mello who has sought the CM’s medical evaluation as well as a health bulletin raised this apprehension during an oral argument.

He alleged that two senior BJP officials are forging Parrikar’s signatures and that some senior bureaucrats and State Secretary are also signing on official papers in violation of law. 

While the government had last week filed an affidavit arguing that the petition is not maintainable as the CM was holding regular meetings with the ministers, MLAs and government officials, counsel for the petitioner sought to know the mental state of the chief minister to take decisions. 

“Despite being physically incapacitated and bedridden in the ICU, Parrikar has breached constitutional trust by continuing as CM. The matter pertaining to the health of the CM cannot be said to intrude the official secrets. In a democratic structure, the citizens have a right to know about the health condition of the CM,” it was argued. 

Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma who had filed his submission before the High Court on behalf of the State said that disclosing CM's health is a violation of his fundamental right. He has also sought to quash the petition. The bench will hear the government’s arguments on Wednesday.

The HC also asked the government whether it would be ready to submit to the bench the health status of the CM in a sealed envelope. The bench then asked the government to come prepared to answer related questions on Wednesday.