Team Herald
PANJIM: The Transport Department will on Friday submit its report to the government over road tax exemption granted to Pastor Domnick D’Souza, who is already criminal charged for alleged forced religious conversion.
The department on Thursday concluded final hearing into a show cause issued to the alleged accused wherein he was asked to reply why its decision in 2014 to waive road tax on his luxury car is not revoked.
“A report will be submitted to the Transport Minister and Secretary on Friday, since it is a government matter. A decision will thereafter be taken,” sources told Herald.
It is learnt that the department has concluded that D’Souza has abused the tax waiver even as Goa Daman & Diu Motor Vehicles Tax Rules 1974 allows such exemption for charitable purpose. “In the present case, D’Souza ‑ prosecuted for allegedly forcing religious conversion ‑ has misused the tax waiver at the cost of public exchequer,” sources said.
The government’s audit had alleged that D’Souza misused the Act, findings which were accepted by law department.
The car owner’s legal representative during the hearing before the transport officials termed the show cause as illegal since the waiver was granted by way of a notification which still stands valid.
D’Souza might have to shell out Rs 4-5 lakh towards the tax to the department if government stands by its findings.
