MP to seek separate High Court for Goa

Panaji, Feb 20 (PTI) Goa MP Shantaram Naik today said hewill revive his demand for a separate High Court for Goa,which he had made almost 25 year ago as a bar council leader.

Naik said that he will raise the demand during theforthcoming monsoon session of Rajya Sabha.

The demand for separate High Court for Goa cropped upafter lawyers began protesting suspension of AdditionalDistrict and Sessions judge, Desmond D''Costa.

The judge was suspended by the High Court, allegedly forexpediting case of serial killer Mahanand Naik.

The Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court was established onOctober 30,1982, pending the demand for a full-fledged HighCourt for Goa as contemplated under the Constitution.

Naik, former chief of South Goa Advocates Association,said he did not pursue the demand after the bench wasestablished in Goa as there was split within the lawyers.

Several rallies and public meetings, recently held in Goato protest against the suspension of D''Costa, had raised thedemand for a separate High Court for the state.

Naik said he was happy to learn that a consensus isdeveloping for a full-fledged High Court.

"One cannot forget that Goa had a full fledged High Courtwith five sitting judges having jurisdiction not only over theareas of Daman and Diu but had the jurisdiction overPortuguese colonies of Macau and Timor, for about fourcenturies," he said referring to the Portuguese era, whichended in 1961 with Goa''s liberation.

Even the court of Judicial Commissioner, established inthe Union Territory of Goa after liberation, was nothing lessthan the High Court, the MP said.

"In fact, the bench of the Bombay High Court is muchlower in judicial status than the then Court of Judicialcommissioner," he added.