Goa High Court
We are in the silver jubilee year of our Statehood, but regretfully we do not possess our own High Court. Our beloved State has evolved in the legal field as learned Goans have proved to be legally competent. Goa already had two of its sons Justice Gurudas Kamat and Justice Ferdino Rebello who were elevated as Chief Justices of High Court of Gujarat and Allahabad respectively. The present three Judges at the High Court of Bombay at Panaji are all Goans. Sikkim which is geographically and population wise smaller than Goa, has its own High Court of Sikkim consisting of three Judges. The people of Goa through an Opinion Poll had decided against its merger with Maharashtra, but are yet in control of the Maharashtrian Judiciary as the highest judicial body in the State, since the Union Government has failed to establish a High Court of Goa. Goa has the Portuguese Civil Code still in force as extended to the earlier Union territory of Goa , Daman & Diu, with which the visiting Judges of the High Court of Bombay posted at the Panaji Bench are not familiar with; so cases pile up. The Manohar Parrikar Government must take initiative to establish our very own High Court in the silver jubilee year of our Statehood.
Rui Ferreira, Panaji
Quack doctors
This refers to the news report ‘Beware your prescription may cost you dearly’ by Gerard de Souza (Herald, May 29, 2012). Apart from the news report that there are pharmacies in Goa that are openly selling all kinds of allopathic medicines to patients, no one from the Health Ministry or FDA is interested in checking or taking action against such defaulters who are openly selling medicines prescribed by non allopathic and homeopathic doctors. I request the FDA, Health Minister and Chief Minister of Goa to take action against Hospitals who are recruiting such doctors to work in their hospitals - some non allopathic doctors such as homeopathic and ayurvedic doctors who are openly prescribing allopathic medicines even in reputed hospitals in Goa. Action must be taken against such quack doctors operating in this State. They must be punished from indulging in such criminal acts and be barred from practising in their clinics It is mandatory that allopathic doctors have an MBBS degree.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
Regular visits
This refers to the news report ‘Vasco mamlatdar guard caught off guard…’ (Herald May 29, 2012). Kudos to South Goa Collector N.D.Aragwal on his surprise visit to the Mamlatdar’s office in Vasco. Such a scenario in government offices is not unusual – staff report late to work but leave before time. The collector should pay surprise visits to all government offices especially village panchayats where the talathis play hide and seek and harass the public. The secretaries too are sometimes not found in their seat and inconvenience the public as work is not done on time. The Collector or BDOs must make surprise visits to their subordinates’ offices from time to time, and streamline the administrations at panchayat level, so that the public visiting government can offices get their work done.
Marcos Alemao, via email
Equal importance
This refers to ‘Goan Basketball’ by Vasco Alvares(Herald, May 26, 2012). I certainly agree that Goan Basketball has not been given the importance it deserves. I too was very interested in the sport, but never got the opportunity to hone my talent. This sport is absolutely avoided by the government of Goa who gives more importance to football. The sports ministry must take up the issue and try to give equal importance and opportunity to those interested in the sport.
Carlos Luis, Varca
Petrol price
The price of Crude oil per barrel is $119.Now crude oil has to be refined and transported to the pumps. If we consider 30% as cost of refining plus transport plus state and central tax the cost of a barrel would be an additional $35.70 which means the cost of a barrel of refined petrol at the pump is 119+35.70=$154.70. A barrel has 42 gallons that means 154.70/42=$3.68 is the cost per gallon.Now 1 gallon=3.89 litres which means one litre cost 3.68/3.89=$0.94.Now if we consider that 1$=Rs55 the petrol cost per litre should be 0.94x55=Rs51.70.So the question to be asked is why are we paying so much? Given the government has to raise funds for development and hence further adds taxes to mop up additional funds. The only problem citizens have is the taxes we pay end up in some scam or the other and hardly contributes to nation building. This is what hurts the citizen the most.
DC Dias, Taleigao