Threatens to proceed with contempt petitions in HC
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a bid to apply brakes on the raging conflicts between tour operators/hoteliers and taxi operators, tourism stakeholders have issued notices to State authorities demanding action against taxi operators for harassment, exploitation, wrongful acts of preventing conduct of legitimate business – failing which they have warned of proceedings of contempt against concerned authorities in the High Court.
The issue has been strongly taken up the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) which has issued notices to Chief Secretary, Directors of Transport and Tourism, Director General of Police, SPs North and South and Collectors North and South alleging that all have failed to obey High Court directions issued in December 2006 owing to which taxi operators in the State have been emboldened to continue illegal activities against tour operators and tourists.
The TTAG has pointed out that taxi operators have been wrongfully restraining tour operators from conducting legitimate business of transporting tourists resulting in major conflicts during the last three to four weeks in the State.
While the conflicts have been on during the last six years, the TTAG has expressed concern over the increasing spate of incidents reported this season.
The TTAG has further alleged that despite lodging of complaints of several incidents before concerned police stations, in particular South Goa, no action or offences have been registered against the accused.
The TTAG has charged the police for disobeying court directions and instead taking orders from local politicians who have no authority to interfere.
The TTAG has further pointed out that all authorities concerned had given assurances to the court of taking appropriate action in the matter and protect tourists visiting Goa, but have failed to do so, as harassment from taxi operators continue to be meted out to tourists, tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers.
‘Inaction during the last six years and specifically in the last few weeks with regards to specific complaints leaves us with no other alternative but to file proceedings of willful disobedience and contempt of court seeking orders to enforce orders of the High Court of 2006,’ reads the notice of the TTAG to the authorities concerned.
In the notices issued to the authorities, TTAG has demanded immediate action against illegalities within seven days failing which the TTAG would proceed with contempt petitions in the High Court.
The TTAG has attached the long list of complaints filed at various police stations and number of incidents of attacks on tour operators/tourists during the last one month.
The TTAG has very specifically hit out against the transport department and SP South for disobeying their own assurances given to the court in 2006 by not acting against offences being committed despite the full knowledge of the same and complaints filed.
