HC directs for written arguments on Rodrigues's PIL

Panaji, Nov 21 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed that written arguments be filed within two weeks on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Advocate Aires Rodrigues, challenging appointments of Mr Nilkant Harlankar and Mr Francisco Silveira as parliamentarians.

The bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Nelson A Britto directed on the PIL filed by Advocate Aires Rodrigues, who also challenged conferring of Cabinet status on EDC Chairman Mr Agnelo Fernandes, deputy chairman of Goa Planning Board Dr Wilfred D Souza and Commissioner of NRI affairs Mr Eduardo Faleiro.

The court further directed that the matter be later listed for judgement.

In a application dated October 7, Mr Rodrigues had requested that judgement should be passed speedily in the case due to the urgency of the matter, as it results in a huge burden on the state exchequer.

Chief Justice Kumar and Justice Britto had on March 19, after hearing the final arguments in the matter, reserved the judgement.

The arguments on the PIL filed by Advocate Rodrigues on July 17, 2007, were initially heard by the High Court comprising of Justices R M S Khandeparkar and R S Mohite on August 22, 2007 and the matter was reserved for judgement.

However on August 24, the court did not pass any order but adjourned the matter stating that it would not be appropriate to deal with the matter as a similar case relating to the validity of the appointment of parliamentary secretaries and conferrment of status to Cabinet Ministers in Assam, was pending before the Supreme Court.

UNI SRN SR KK RAI2002