Team Herald
PONDA: The Gomantak Bhandari Samaj has filed complaints at the Tiswadi and Ponda Registrars against the migrants for illegally applying for “Naik” as surname.
After filing the complaints, Samaj President Ashok Naik while addressing the media persons expressed concerns over the migrants changing their surnames by adopting Bhandari community’s "Naik" surname in Goa.
He said, “The Goa Change of Name and Surname Act 1990 does not permit this and added that these frequent change of surname applications by the migrants is to obtain benefit under OBC category.”
He demanded that the government take strict action against these migrants for such illegal change in surnames. Naik cited two recent instances of applications for change in surnames at Panjim and Ponda wherein objections were filed.
He said, “On August 28, at Panjim Tiswadi Registrar one Jayprakash Irappa Sutagattikar filed his application to change his surname to Prakash Irappa Naik while at Ponda Sub Registrar one Rahul Suresh Chavan filed application to change his surname to Rahul Suresh Naik.”
He said after the notices appearing in local dailies for change in surname to Naik, he on behalf of Gomantak Bhandari Samaj filed objections at Tiswadi and Ponda Registrars.
In a complaint to the District Registrar Tiswadi, objecting to the change of name by Jayprakash Sutgatticar to Naik, the Samaj president said it is not known on what basis Jayprakash Irappa Sutagattikar is seeking to change his name to Jayprakash Irappa Naik.
He urged the Sub Registrar in various talukas to inform the Bhandari Samaj in their respective talukas in case of applications for change in surnames are submitted to their offices so that the local Bhandari Samaj committee can file objections.
He said, “Nowhere in country there is law for change in surname. However, in Goa there is provision for change in name only in case of pronunciation of surname. This is because ‘Naik’ Bhandari in Portuguese era was pronounced as Naique and so the government had allowed change in surnames from Naique to Naik for Bhandari community. However, the migrants are taking advantage of it.”
He urged the Bhandari community to file objections in case migrants apply for change in name which is not allowed under the Act.
He said after obtaining information under RTI, action will be taken against those who have changed their names illegally and cases will be filed in court.