PANJIM: A complaint has been filed with Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah against Justice U V Bakre for having heard a case pertaining to mining in Goa, when he cleared mining leases as Law Secretary.
The complaint by Adv Aires Rodrigues pointed to improprieties since he was the Law Secretary of Goa from November 21, 2005 to April 8, 2007. The complaint alleges that during this time the government had taken several decisions on mining.
A copy of the complaint has been sent to the Chief Justice of India R M Lodha.
Complainant Rodrigues has given details of the bunch of petitions filed by the mining companies which was recently heard by a bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa of which Justice Bakre was a part with the judgment delivered on August 13, 2014, directing the Goa Government to renew the mining leases.
Pointing out that the Justice Shah Commission which has probed the Goa illegal mining scam has held government officials also responsible for the irregularities that were perpetrated, the complainant stated that Justice Bakre who as Law Secretary having been privy and party to many of those controversial decisions should have recused from hearing any matter pertaining to Goa mining.
Stating that to maintain society’s trust and confidence, justice must not only be done but be seen to be done, the complaint says that in every judicial proceeding there is need to uphold
the integrity of the judiciary and at the same time delivering fair justice to the parties
concerned.
The complainant stated that the trust of the people is shaken when the judiciary does not discharge its duties as per the Constitution.
