PANAJI
The matter before the Goa Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad related to the legality of the renewal of excise licence to the Silly Souls Cafe and Bar at Assagao was on Monday taken up with Mapusa-based lawyer Benny Nazareth filing a written submission over the issues raised.Gad took the written submission on record and has now posted it for further hearing on September 12 when the complainant, lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues is expected to file his reply.
Nazareth, who spoke to the media after the hearing said, documents supporting the D'Gama family's submission were also attached. He said, the Commissioner did not grant the complainant's oral prayer for suspension of the excise licence.
Rodrigues on the other hand claimed that he has argued before the Commissioner that the Portuguese law of inheritance being cited by the D'Gama family, which owns the property, cannot apply to the excise licence.
He said, the licence is personal to the licensee, the late Anthony D'Gama. It cannot go to the wife on his death or to the children on her death, he added.
The row over the Assagao restaurant and bar has been playing out for several weeks after Rodrigues raised the issue of it being run by the family of Union Minister Smriti Irani.
