Strip Dayanand Narvekar of law portfolio: Utt Goenkara

Panaji, Jun 18 (UNI) Goan non-governmental organisation, Utt Goenkara has demanded Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to strip Dayanand Narvekar of the Law portfolio in view of the criminal charges framed against the latter in connection with the infamous 2001 fake one day international cricket ticket scam.

Addressing a press conference here today, Utt Goenkara spokesman advocate Aires Rodrigues said although there was no prohibition under any law including the 'Representation of People's Act' to the continuance of a tainted minister in the Cabinet, it was as a matter of public faith and confidence that Mr Narvekar should not continue as a Law Minister.

''If for political compulsions Mr Kamat cannot drop Mr Narvekar from the cabinet, the least the Chief Minister should do is to immediately strip him of the law portfolio,'' Mr Rodrigues demanded.

He said since serious charges including cheating have been framed against Mr Narvekar, it was highly improper that such a person should continue as the Law Minister of the state.

It was the ''Aam Aadmi's'' view that a minister charged with commission of a serious offence by a law court has no moral authority to continue as Law Minister, he added.

Stating that public prosecutors are paid by the Law Department, Mr Rodrigues wondered whether with the continuance of Mr Narvekar as Law Minister the trial would be fair.

It would be no surprise if like the Somnath Zuwarkar's case, the Goa government makes a further mockery of the judicial process by winding up the case against the Law Minister too.

Mr Rodrigues had also appealed to Governor S C Jamir that as the keeper of the Constitutional conscience, he should prevail upon Chief Minister not to shield the tainted minister but instead divest him of the Law portfolio.

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