Team Herald
PANJIM: The Gomantak Bhandari Samaj on Tuesday urged State government to immediately implement the amendments introduced to the Change of Name and Surname Act that restrains non-Goans from adopting surnames of the natives.
Addressing media persons, Samaj president Ashok Naik demanded that pending implementation of the amendments, no applications for change of name and surname should be entertained.
Goa Legislative Assembly during its recently concluded Monsoon Session passed a Bill to make change of name or surname a criminal offence if done without following the procedure prescribed under the Act.
“We welcome the government move to amend the Act. It will definitely stop non-Goans from illegally changing their names and surnames to avail benefits in Goa,” Naik said.
He, however, demanded that the amendments be introduced at the earliest pending which, no applications for name or surname change be allowed.
Naik cited a latest example wherein a Sub-Registrar Mapusa has forwarded them an application of a person by name Laxman Lamani, who wanted to change his surname as Naik.
“These migrants illegally obtain Bhandari community surnames and take benefits as OBC,” he alleged.
The Samaj has also demanded investigation into 4000-odd name change cases cleared in last three years.
As per the amendment, the person would be imprisoned for a period upto three months if he or she fails to follow the procedure.
