New HC building to be inaugurated at last
Finally the new building for our High Court is set to be inaugurated on March 27. With the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde due to retire next month on April 23, the unveiling of that plaque may be his last official function in Goa. With the premises not yet complete in all respects, hopefully from June this year, Goa’s highest Temple of Justice will start functioning from the new premises.
The foundation stone for this new High Court building was laid on December 19, 2013 and we were assured that the construction would be complete in 18 months. After various extended deadlines our High Court building will soon be a reality. The project which was initially tendered for Rs 72 crore was later increased to Rs 90 crore and by now must be nearing Rs 200 crore.
Instead of being just another concrete structure it would have been so appropriate if our new High Court building could have reflected the facets of Goan architecture. It could have symbolically established the continuity of the old buildings where our High court began its working, first from the old Judicial Commissioner’s Court in the city and then to the current old Lyceum complex at Altinho. The legacy of Goa’s rich history in the field of Judicial and legal services should have been placed in a better context for posterity. There was room to plan and design our High Court with a Goan centric finesse.
Surprisingly our High Court building has been designed like the Gujarat High Court and has no slopping roof. This is absolutely impractical and inappropriate in view of the very heavy rainfall Goa gets. The authorities need to take remedial measures about the roofing or else we may end up with a leaking High Court while our files wade through knee deep water.
Taxpayer’s money has to be very judiciously spent on every project with quality of the works never ever compromised. Every building constructed, so too every road, has to be a very lasting one. A successful project is the one which can achieve a balance between cost, time, and quality. Citizens need to be also vigilant about public projects coming up in their neighbourhood as ensuring quality is everyone’s responsibility.
To ensure that every government project is properly and meticulously executed, Goa desperately needs a full- fledged Quality Control department that is well equipped to technically and administratively monitor and ensure strict compliance of established standards. There should be no room for any substandard construction.
With a lot of taxpayer’s money having been spent on our new High Court building we can only hope that the authorities have ensured that the works have been up to the mark and will withstand and endure for decades to come the heavy monsoons that lash our State.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Make Ravindra Bhavans functional
It is understood that nearly a year since the lockdown, theatre students from the second year of the Kala Academy College of Theatre, have put together a play in what could be considered the first theatre performance at Kala Academy post lockdown. This is a welcome step.
It must be said that Konkani tiatr, a popular form of entertainment for many Goans, is yet to make a comeback in a big way post the lockdown as most of the halls including the Ravindra Bhavans and Kala Academy were shut. However the Konkani tiatr stage is all set to make a comeback from Easter Day onwards. Hence besides the Kala Academy all the Ravindra Bhavans in the state need to become functional as it will give an opportunity for the tiatr directors to stage their plays.
It must be said that during the lockdown and the months following it Goans have missed watching the tiatrs though some shows were available on YouTube. However Konkani tiatr happens to be a form of entertainment for Konkani lovers across all economic classes. It is an entertainment especially for those belonging to the middle-income group and the poor who may not have access to the internet.
Hence it is necessary for the Konkani tiatr to be staged live and for this to happen making the Ravindra Bhavans across the state operational is vital.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Municipal Council elections
After the High Court halts the poll process in five Municipal Councils and quashes notification on reservation of wards and asking the Goa state Election Commission to work again on reservation of seats and wards in all the five Municipal Councils. Why Goa Government is wasting time public money by approaching Supreme court? Instead of doing corrections in the process of reservations Goa Government is playing games of revenges and challenges.Cases were filed in the High Court much before the election dates were announced so the cases are valid no doubt about it.
The Supreme Court’s interim order cannot be taken as supreme court’s final verdict. Goa government have taken this as if it’s their victory. The decision taken the government and the state election Commission can create confusion if supreme court final verdict comes on Tuesday in the lines of the High Court. They could have waited till supreme court’s final verdict comes on Tuesday. Government is giving bad example to others. Judicial process is to be respected. Interim order does not victory to the petitioners. The latest news is that there are instructions from the centre to finish with municipal elections as soon as possible and hence the hurry.
Soon the disqualification cases will be disposed off and there is possibility of early assembly elections.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Efficacy of vaccines with immunity
While applauding the yeoman effort made by the various multinational and national companies for having spared no effort to develop vaccines in very fast time frame, to be fair to everyone, it would be suggested that vaccines with greater percentage of efficacy, even if costlier should be administered to the most vulnerable sections based on their health conditions.
The prime reason for vaccination drive is to steadily stem the spread of the coronavirus and thus achieve herd immunity, most important to stop the wider spread of Covid-19. Would it not be fair to give the over 60s, who largely are more susceptible, vaccines that are more efficacious to in a better manner protect them? Would younger and those with greater degree of immunity voluntarily accept to be vaccinated with a vaccine having a lesser degree of effectiveness, but still be reasonably protected?
Prudent averaging out of entire process of vaccination would be a better way forward to try to achieve faster results in curbing Covid-19, leading to its total eradication.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Bad refereeing standards at ISL
We are in the semi-final stage of this year’s edition of the ISL but the refereeing standards is disgraceful and instead of getting better it has gone from bad to worse with FC Goa being at the receiving end of some blatant bad decisions by the referee of this semi-final match.
Goa were denied two clear penalties and a direct red card to Mumbai’s top defender M Fall towards the end which would have made him miss the return leg.
If this situation continues this supposed to be the country’s premier tournament will die a slow death with teams withdrawing due to incompetent refereeing. So it is high time the organisers Reliance IMG and AIFF take some remedial measures before this tournament loses its sheen and spectator appeal.
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
