Team Herald

PANJIM: Adv Aires Rodrigues on Monday moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa over the Goa government nominating Speaker Pramod Sawant to hoist the national flag at the Independence Day State function to be held at Panjim.

In a letter petition, Rodrigues has sought that the High Court initiate appropriate action including suo-motu proceedings. A copy of the petition has been sent to the Chief Justice of India and the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

In his petition, Rodrigues stated that the immediate intervention of the High Court was warranted to ensure that the sanctity and solemnity of  good governance and laid down protocol  is not polluted nor fiddled with by power-intoxicated politicians and to ensure that the mandate of law and the constitutional frame work is strictly complied with.

Pointing out that at the Independence Day State function it is the Chief Minister who hoists the national flag and in his absence it would have to be by the senior most Minister or a Minister nominated by the Chief Minister, Rodrigues has drawn the attention of the High Court that this year due to the absence of the Chief Minister who is abroad, the government has shockingly and in violation of the laid down norms and protocol, nominated the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to hoist the national flag.

Rodrigues submitted that it was incomprehensible as to how the Speaker could assume the role and responsibility of the Chief Minister.

Rodrigues has also drawn the High Court’s attention to a 1992 Constitutional bench judgment where the Supreme Court has reiterated extensively on the independence and impartiality of the Speaker’s post.