TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: A public demonstration will be staged on March 20 at 9.30 am outside the Mapusa Court to demand the immediate suspension of the charge sheeted Judge Dvijple Patkar.
Announcing this at a news conference at Mapusa, Adv Aires Rodrigues informed that as part of the ongoing agitation to demand the suspension of Judge Patkar, demonstrations would also be held in front of the residence of Judge Patkar and later before the Bombay High Court at Panjim.
“Margao Police on March 5 had filed a charge sheet against Judge Patkar and two others under Sections 498-A (b), 323, read with Section 34 of Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The charge sheet was filed after a police investigation consequent to a First Information Report No 502/2014 dated November 3, 2014 registered against Judge Patkar and others,” Adv Rodrigues said.
Judge Patkar, who is currently Civil Judge Senior Division and Judicial Magistrate First Class at Mapusa, has now been summoned by Margao Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Reina Fernandes to appear as accused before her on April 7 at 2.30 pm to face trial.
“In view of this, Judge Patkar should have herself stepped down and faced justice to avoid this darkest ever and very sordid shameful chapter for Goa’s judiciary from unfolding,” said Rodrigues.
Adv. Rodrigues has cautioned that the trust of the people would only be further shaken if a charge sheeted and now tainted person continues as a Judge.
“Recently, former district court judge and sitting high court judge Anuja Prabhudessai and district court judge Desmond D’Costa had been suspended pending an inquiry on allegations against them.
The case of Judge Patkar is far more serious as she has been charge sheeted after a police probe,” said Rodrigues.
