Team Herald
MARGAO: The decision taken by the South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA) not to enter the Trial Court building at Margao evoked immediate response from the Government and an assurance was given by the Minister for Law and Judiciary, and PWD, Nilesh Cabral that his department would expeditiously get the issue resolved and commence the repair work of the heritage building.
The SGAA had resolved not to enter the premises of the Margao Civil and Criminal Court for the entire day on July 13 as it was leaking.
On Wednesday morning, the agitated lawyers gathered outside the Trial Court building and refused to enter the premises alleging that the entire heritage structure was leaking.
They charged that in view of the red alert and forecast of heavy rainfalls issued by the authorities, there was a danger of the false ceiling collapsing and the life of the lawyers, litigants, court staff and the judges themselves was at risk.
Addressing the agitated lawyers and the media, Adv Prasad Naik, President of the South Goa Advocates Association, said that the association was concerned about the dangerous condition of the old building and the risk it posed to those who enter it.
He said that lawyers have a fundamental right to work in an environment which is safe. He claimed that the lawyers were fearing that a calamity could strike them at any time on account of the damaged roof.
Adv Pritam Morais said that it was time for the Government to take immediate corrective measures as the rain water which was earlier only entering the Bar Room had pilfering through the court rooms and as such it was becoming difficult for the lawyers and the litigants to participate in the proceedings. He said that it would be degrading for the profession for the lawyers to enter the courtrooms with umbrellas.
Adv Clovis Da Costa highlighted the pitiful situation which had forced the lawyers to take such a bold step of refusing to enter the court building. Other senior lawyers also addressed the advocates outside the trial court building.
In an attempt to resolve the issue, Law Minister Nilesh Cabral rushed to the Trial Court building and met the agitated advocates along with the PWD officials and apologized to them for the existing condition of the court building and assured the lawyers that he would take immediate steps.
to preserve the ancient court building structure and repair the same.
He also assured the lawyers that he would take up on priority basis the work of construction of the new court building, which has started but stopped for some time. The agitated lawyers thereafter went to the chamber of the Principal District and Sessions Judge Irshad Agha and briefed him about the issue.
The agitated lawyers requested the Principal District Judge to inspect the court building and take immediate steps to temporarily shift some of the affected courtrooms to the new District and Sessions Court complex.
