PANJIM: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira has said that it should be ensured that the name or surname of any individual is not changed with just a stroke of hand.
“We need to stop this practice of name change and we need to move with speed. If the government is serious, it may take suomotu cognisance. We will definitely take up in the forthcoming assembly session. As far as changing the surname of a person from one caste to another is concerned, there is a committee to identify whether somebody belongs to a particular caste or not. There should be clear cut criteria on the basis of which you can be granted a caste certificate or not,” Adv Ferreira said.
“When a surname is changed then the remarks column must have a statement that a change has taken place. There must be a remark that his or her name has been changed. Identity of Goans is being lost due to people from outside acquiring names of Goans. By changing names, people are also committing fraud. Dead people are becoming alive. They are selling lands to strangers, some of whom are innocent,” said the Aldona MLA.
Adv Ferreira said the Congress party will bring an amendment that remarks must be made while names or surnames are changed. “There must be a remark that his or her names have been changed,” he said.
