MARGAO: In a latest development, Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Monday emphasised that there is no specific time limit set for deciding on disqualification pleas and that the concept of a ‘time-bound decision’ does not exist in this context.
Addressing mediapersons in Margao, Tawadkar said that the disqualification petition is pending not because of him, but claimed that parties concerned are seeking time and added that he is hearing them.
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Tawadkar’s statement came at the time when he was on record in the past stating that he will set a timeline to decide the disqualification petition against eight defector MLAs. He was also on record stating in the High Court of Bombay at Goa that he will hear the petitions and decide them expeditiously.
One of the petitioners GirishChodankar had approached the High Court, which in May this year, had directed the Speaker to decide his disqualification petition against eight Congress rebel MLAs in a time-bound manner, particularly in terms of law laid down by the Supreme Court that disqualification petitions be decided within three months.
Tawadkar, who is hearing four disqualification petitions, three against eight former Congress MLAs and another against two MLAs Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo members for voluntarily giving up Congress party’s membership, stated that it is the parties who are asking for the time for arguments.
“It is not that I am deliberately delaying the matter. Hearings are taken on a regular basis and it is the parties concerned, who are asking for the time and it is my duty to allow their request. There are several cases going on for several years in the courts and hence it is not fair to blame me that I am delaying the hearings,” said Tawadkar.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Tawadkar heard disqualification petition filed by Dominic Noronha against eight rebel Congress MLAs who had switched over to BJP in September last year. The case will now be heard on merits on December 15.
Also arguments on petition filed by Congress president Amit Patkar’s petition will start from November 8.
TAWADKAR SUPPORTS FILM CITY
Margao: Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Monday extended support to film city to be set up in Loliem, Canacona as it will help in bringing in development and creating employment opportunities in the taluka.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Tawadkar said, “Canacona has been neglected as far as development and employment opportunities are concerned. Government has limitations for providing jobs. We are at the extreme end of the State, so any project which is environment-friendly should be welcomed. The project will fulfil the requirement of employment opportunities.”
When the offer of film city came to us, the first thing we thought of was how much employment opportunities would be created through this vis-a-vis harm to the environment. When I gave it a thought, I came to the conclusion that the rocky land at Loliem is ideal. People of Loliem and village panchayat have opined that the project should come there,” he said.
Recently the Comunidade of Loliem-Polem had extended support to setting up the film city on their land.
