PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday disposed of the petition filed by Pastor Domnic D’Souza of Five Pillar Church, Siolim and his wife Joan Mascarenhas e D’Souza challenging the show cause notices issued to them by the North Goa Collector.
Both the petitioners withdrew their petitions with liberty to file again only after Collector decides on their externment proceedings initiated by the SP North before the Collector.
The petitioners had challenged show cause notices issued to them under Sections 3 and 4 of the Goa Maintenance of Public Order and Safety Act, 1988 requiring them to show cause as to why they should not be externed from the North Goa District.
After hearing the matter for some time, petitioners counsel Adv Ankur Kumar sought leave to withdraw petitions with liberty to respond to the show cause notice and to raise all permissible defences and grounds, including the grounds raised in these petitions. He submitted that in case any externment orders are passed, liberty be granted to them to challenge the same in accordance with law.
The Court accepted Adv Kumar’s contention and granted leave to withdraw the petitions with liberties as prayed for.
It may be recalled that SP North Nidhin Valsan had written to the District Magistrate to initiate externment proceedings against them.
both — Domnic and his wife Joan for their alleged involvement in offences like magic remedies and hurting of religious sentiments. Both were asked to appear before the North Goa District Magistrate of January 12. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled before the Collector on January 19.
