Need for setting up a High Court in Goa
The new elegant High Court building built at the cost of the Goan public exchequer was inaugurated with pomp. The legal luminaries including the Chief Justice of India, The Union Law Minister, Supreme Court judges, High court judge’s, State Ministers were present.
After liberation in 1961, yhe union territory of Goa was brought under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court. It is an irony that even after Goa attained statehood and became an independent state, we do not have it’s own High Court.
There are valid reasons why there is an urgent need for establishing the Goa High Court. We are aware that not only has the population grown, but also the number of cases filed in the High court are increasing. Goa also has local laws, the Portuguese law continues to apply. Besides the entire cost of the functioning of the Bombay High Court at Goa is borne from the consolidated fund of the State. There is no reason why we should be controlled by the Bombay High Court.
Now that the New High Court building has been constructed at enormous cost with facilities for six Court rooms, Chamber’s for Judge’s, Chamber for Registrar General, library for judge’s etc, it would be in the fitness of things if the Government of Goa passes a resolution during the present assembly session which is underway for establishment of an independent Goa High Court.
The state government may then send the proposal to the Union ministry of Law and judiciary which after recommendation, can be forwarded to the President of India who can issue an order to that effect.
Juino De Souza, by email
Judiciary has an important role
Knocking those doors of the Temples of Justice should have ordinarily been one’s last resort. Unfortunately in Goa it has become the first stop. The spurt in the number of Government decisions being challenged in the Courts is a sign that the wheels of governance are not moving in accordance with law.
With so many faulty government decisions and a state of utter mal administration the judiciary has to play a very crucial role in delivering justice. In times where money and muscle power is solely determining the heights our politicians can peak, the task of the Judiciary becomes all the more pertinent, crucial and vital.
It is incumbent on the Law department and the Advocate General to render tenable legal advice to those in Power and never succumb to partake with any politically tailored unsound legal opinion.
To ensure that the Justice delivery system always functions within the constitutional frame work, it is imperative that the politicians should have no direct or indirect role whatsoever in the selection, promotion and posting of Judges.
Judges should judge every case strictly on merit and never be swayed by any other consideration. A good judge has to be extremely fair and must always uphold the rule of law. Justice has to be dispensed with proper application of mind, cautiously yet promptly.
Over the years we have witnessed some extremely good judges. We have also seen some from the other end of the spectrum and on them less said the better.
The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and an independent judiciary, which is truly independent. A virtuous judiciary that is accountable to uphold the law at all times.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Encourage child artistes
We need to appreciate Herald for giving wide publicity to budding child artists like Anthea Dias hailing from Sarzora, Chinchinim a child prodigy and a virtuoso violinist, a honour for the village, Goa and India. Credit should be given the parents who are musically oriented and to the talented teacher Winston Colaço.
Prior to Liberation every Church had its own musical teacher called the ‘mestre’ who used to teach the music and the solfage to students and the church choir, probably a tradition coming from the Portuguese and a platform to identify budding talent, in the years gone by every Goan family had a musical instrument piano, violin, guitar, mandolin, sitar, flute, ghumot(drum), peti (box harmonium) etc. which was handed over from father to son/daughter and the tradition of love for music was carried forward.
Herald’s impetus to music has now reached from an allegretto to Crescendo. The young fiddler has reached the rooftop and will soon break the glass ceiling at the Carnegie Hall New York, wishing the young artist all the best.
Agnelo Furtado, Chinchinim
Independent building for Vasco school
It is learnt that the renovation work of the Mormugao Municipal Council building in Vasco has commenced and will continue in phases. In the first phase the municipal school and the first floor will be renovated. It is pertinent to note that the municipal school is located in this busy location where several government offices including the offices of the Mamlatdar and the Deputy Collector are housed. It seems that the school does not have a playground of its own.
The Municipality sees large crowds visiting it on a daily basis for their official work. School students jostle with the people visiting the municipality. Under such circumstances it would be in the fitness of things for the municipal school to be shifted to a more spacious location in Vasco.
The functioning of the school was started in the municipal building several decades ago when the population of Vasco city was much less and fewer citizens would visit the offices in the municipality. However now things have changed drastically. With the increase in the migrant population in the port town, the municipal building is always crowded which also witnesses serpentine queues at the various counters.
A separate school building at a different location would be advantageous for the students. The space left vacant in the municipal building, as a result of shifting the school to another location, could be utilized to house more government offices. The state government could assist the Vasco municipality in the endeavour.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Precautions better than cure
The Taluka of Bardez has been facing major water problems due to an bursting of 1,000 mm underground water pipeline. This incident has occurred a couple of days from now due to widening of road for highway at Karaswado.
These types of damages occur frequently disturbing normal life in the state and, besides causing inconvenience to residents and business establishments due to dry spells, also make home chores drop to a standstill. One can imagine the scourging heat and humidity that has hit Goa this summer, and how to begin and end the day without a drop of life-giving water in such conditions remains a question.
I therefore ask the authority concerned and water resource department responsible for all this to kindly make sure, that if any such road digging is done, to get the contractor who is aware of the underground network of water pipelines in order to prevent further damage to these pipelines. Therefore it is necessary to have a utility line locator, that manages to find metal or plastic underground lines at a level of accuracy. This technology is passive for hidden underground pipelines. The use of conductive and inductive methods could do good, this will help solve the problem of outbursts and water wastage so that the people of Goa can enjoy good quality and quantity of water. We are not in the Stone Age days. Giving much thought to the needs of humanity will help in the long run.
Jane Fernandes, Camurlim
