PANJIM: A day after a Goa Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member was allegedly manhandled for objecting to the illegal parking of a car on the footpath in the State capital, Goa State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to various government authorities taking cognizance of a petition complaining violation of human rights.
The notices served on the State government, Transport Department and Traffic Police are returnable on December 21, 2015.
In a petition, complainant Satish Sonak, also an AAP member, has urged the commission to direct the authorities to declare parking of vehicles on footpaths as violation of human rights and to launch a vigilance drive in Panjim to issue challans to owners/drivers of these vehicles.
Sonak has also sought a direction to the Chief Secretary to formulate a policy that will ensure that building projects are given licences with a condition not to allow parking of vehicles on footpaths, impose a penalty 10 times the present fine if found violating the rule and cancelling licences of illegally parked vehicles. “Whenever policemen and/or RTO officials fail to take action, it will be considered as serious dereliction of duties and their services be terminated,” states the petition.
The commission headed by Justice P K Misra thereafter issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic, Panjim Traffic Inspector and Director of Transport for a reply by December 21.
On Tuesday, AAP Convener Valmiki Naik lodged a complaint with Panjim police station alleging that he had been manhandled and threatened by an employee of a jewellery store when he objected to the illegal parking of a car on the footpath.
On Wednesday, AAP members and some Panjim residents held a ‘satyagraha’ near the jewellery store protesting the incident.
