Former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Justice Ferdino Rebello received a shot in the arm for his “Enough is Enough” movement, in the form of support from for-mer Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, which has at its centre a 10-point Charter of Demands which ends at preserving Goa’s identity and culture.
In a letter, Justice Gaval said the Charter represents not merely a list of demands, but a principled
constitutional vision firmly rooted in the rule of law, environmental jurisprudence, and the concept of the State as a trustee of natural and public resources.
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Drawing on his own judicial experience, Justice Gavai noted that he found the Charter’s reliance on well-established principles of environmental and constitutional law particularly compelling. He pointed out that doctrines such as sustainable development, the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle, intergenerational equity, and the Public Trust Doctrine are integral to Indian law and have been repeatedly affirmed by constitutional courts.
Justice Gavai further observed that the Charter is embedded within Goa’s broader historical and constitutional narrative, including the sacrifices of freedom fighters, the struggle for recognition of the Konkani language, the attainment of statehood, and the right of Goans to remain stakeholders rather than outsiders in their own land. He emphasised that the Charter serves as a reminder that development must benefit the people, preserve culture, and safeguard the future, instead of displacing communities and degrading the environment.
The former Chief Justice of India expressed hope that constitutional authorities would give the Charter the serious consideration it deserves, and that Justice Rebello’s efforts would contribute meaningfully to preserving Goa’s ecological balance, cultural ethos and constitutional governance for generations to come.
