MARGAO, FEB 15
Agitating advocates from South Goa were back in the Sessions court and lower courts on Tuesday after literally staying away from the court proceedings since Thursday last.
Functioning of the Sessions courts was normal with the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Vijaya Pol hearing the trial of Russian woman rape case this evening. In the morning, the Court also heard arguments on the bail application moved by accused Vivek Dhamale in the headless body murder case.
A couple of advocates were also seen in the court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Utkarsh V Bakre. The Sessions Judge pronounced an order in the Margao bomb blast case rejecting the application for the release of the vehicle attached by the investigating agency.
However, banners demanding justice for suspended Judge Desmond D’Costa were prominently displayed on the compound wall of the district and sessions court.
President of the South Goa Advocates Association, Adv Anacleto Viegas informed that the advocates returned to the courts on Tuesday, except the court of the Principal district and Sessions Judge, U V Bakre.
When his attention was drawn to the presence of some advocates in the court of the Principal Sessions Judge, Adv Viegas said a couple of advocates might have made their presence felt to take dates or in insurance matters.
Meanwhile, members of the Goa Labour Law Practitioners Association on Tuesday stayed away from the Industrial Tribunal and Labour courts as a mark of protest against the suspension of Judge Desmond D’Costa.
Adv Madhav Bandodkar informed that the Goa Labour Law Practitioners Association has expressed solidarity with the agitating lawyers and has expressed their resentment at the manner in which upright judges are being suspended and humiliated by the high court.
“We have expressed our resentment over the entire issue and have decided to stay away from the courts today”, he told newsmen.
He said the Goa Labour Law Practitioners Association has expressed opposition to the unhealthy trend that have crept in the Judiciary in Goa such as suspension of Presiding officers in courts and show cause notices being issued even after exoneration in the departmental inquiry.
