Beyond punishment for corrupt
Now that all versions of the Lok Pal bill are before the ‘standing committee,’ it may be worth exploring whether in addition to criminal prosecution of the corrupt public servants, it is possible to confiscate properties of public servants through a system of attachment and confiscation of properties which are part of ill gotten wealth. READ
Beyond the Lokpal & Lok Ayukta
Unless a multi-pronged attack is launched against the system of corruption, we may not get solace. An anti-corruption law is required, but as long as the policy of favouring corporate corruption remains unchanged, no institution however powerful is likely to be effective. READ
What the Courts said on MoI
It has been argued that grants to primary schools in English is not a matter of right. It is also argued that the choice of the parents should not burden the state exchequer. But giving of grants and refusal of grants can also not be arbitrary. It is very interesting to note how the Supreme Court and the other High courts have viewed the matter.READ
Why Dalits worship English
It is access to education and English education(!) through the missionary schools that Bhimrao R. Ambedkar came to study at the Columbia University and London school of Economics.READ
It's not fashion - It's all about Hope
If primary education in mother tongue is for preservation of culture and identity, that burden has fallen on the shoulders of the have nots. The haves are simply not bothered about these issues and whether the child would integrate better with the society with the primary education in the language. READ
Discipline and Honour of Judges
It is this split personality of the higher judiciary that gives the power to discipline the judges. Does the theory of split personality actually work? Do the judges hear writ petitions on the judicial side without getting biased with action taken by them on administrative side? READ
Prosecuting the Chief Minister
To my mind the issue of sanction to prosecute the Chief Minister being within governor’s own discretion was settled. Any other view shall only be obnoxious and it will only give a feeling that the Chief Minister and the ministers are beyond the rule of law since there can be no prosecution without sanction. READ
Can NCP merge?
In case the NCP presses its demand and the chief minister refuses, it could lead to a confrontation leading to withdrawal of support. In case such a decision to withdraw support to the government is taken and the two ministers refuse to abide by the party line or vote against the government despite the party demand, it would tantamount to rebelling against the party. READ
Regulating the Real Estate Sector
Thousands of apartment owners in the state of Goa are without a valid title. They are holding on in most cases based upon agreements to sell. Many have invested their lifetime savings in buying a roof over their head, but are not owners of that roof. That is because the apartment legislations mandating conveyance of title to individual apartment purchasers or to the Housing Cooperative Societies do not exist in our state. READ
Anti-Defection Law: Goa shows the way!!!
A new dimension has now been added by the case of Babush Monseratte by not resigning the Taleigao seat and continuing as the member of the House. Probably Vishwajeet Rane is unable to take such a bold stand. His father being the Speaker of the House and in case of a disqualification petition, father sitting on son’s disqualification would be another first for our state which has been rightly avoided. READ
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Cleofato A Coutinho
Cleofato Almeida Coutinho is a senior lawyer and one of the constitutional expert in Goa. A member of Law Commission of Goa, he also teaches at Kare College of Law in Madgao.
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» Beyond the Lokpal & Lok Ayukta
» What the Courts said on MoI
» Why Dalits worship English
» It's not fashion - It's all about Hope
» Discipline and Honour of Judges
» Prosecuting the Chief Minister
» Can NCP merge?
» Regulating the Real Estate Sector
» Anti-Defection Law: Goa shows the way!!!
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This is a good article! Over the years we have become a Country with over-legislations but very poor rate of compliance.It is mostly the God fearing and law abiding middle class which tries to follow the laws and the poor and the rich always escape! The undue delay in getting justice almost amounts to denying justice and one can easily see the ever-increasing cases of people taking law in their own hands, without waiting for the law to take its own course! In fact the law has almost become a tool of harassing a law-abiding citizen rather than punishing a criminal!
I think these are the typical socio-economic conditions which give rise to Naxals and Maoists!
The tourism has brought many evils such as drug abuse, drug trafficking, prostitution, child abuse, rapes, younger generation becoming alcoholic, increasing crime rate and gambling in form of casinos!
The Mining activities have benefitted a few people but have caused tremendous harm to many others. Even a school kid is aware that the mining activities have caused inflow of migrant labour, caused dust pollution, land devastation by converting fertile land into infertile barren lands, damaged our roads, increased accidents, caused increased rate of pulmonary diseases, depleted our ground water, polluted our drinking water sources, and has depleted the scarce mineral resources belonging to future generations!
And all this for just making a few privileged people make money at the cost of causing irreversible harm to the environments its people and topography of this beautiful State!
I feel the blame for all this rot has to go mostly to the so called intellectuals who are all the time busy in their own selfish interests and forgotten their social obligations!