The Hindu : Karnataka News : Abhiyan criticises Goa legislation

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Karnataka

Abhiyan criticises Goa legislation

Special Correspondent

Bill brought in to ratify Ordinance
Government facing flak from social groups

PANAJI: The Goa Bachav Abhiyan, which is spearheading a public agitation against a recent controversial ordinance of the Goa Government, has criticised the Government and MLAs for passing a Bill in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday seeking to ratify an Ordinance when the Supreme Court on the same day had stayed the Ordinance.

The Goa Assembly on Tuesday passed an amendment to the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, seeking to replace an earlier Ordinance brought by it to amend Section 41 of the Act.

The Government has been facing flak from social groups, citizens and non-governmental organisations for “hurriedly bringing in an Ordinance which is primarily aimed at scuttling a Supreme Court judgment seeking demolition of part constructions by a private hotel group for violations of clauses of an agreement signed with the Government”.

For now, the abhiyan said on Wednesday, the Supreme Court is seized of the matter and in view of this, it urged the Goa Governor to refrain from putting his signature to this to further it into an Act.

The abhiyan will do a follow-up in the matter, said Reboni Saha, abhiyan secretary, here on Wednesday.

The Statement of Objectives of legislation, passed by the Assembly on Tuesday, the last day of the two-day budget session, amid resistance from the Opposition and a ruling party member, admitted that legislation was prompted by a recent Supreme Court judgment seeking part demolition of the building of the hotel, Cidade de Goa.

Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza, who introduced the Bill, justified legislation saying that the Government had acquired land for various companies and agreements were executed with them in terms of Section 41 of the Act.

He said recently the Supreme Court, in the case of Cidade de Goa hotel belonging to Fomento Resorts and Hotels Limited, held that the clauses of these agreements have the force of law, and therefore, interpreted the clause of the agreement, which was not as per intention of the parties to the agreement.

Defending the Ordinance and the amendment Bill brought to ratify it in the House, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the Supreme Court also specifically held that there is no power to amend, modify, alter or change the agreement. It was, therefore, felt necessary to amend the Act.

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