PANAJI
Advocates’ forums and associations across Goa on Wednesday condemned the statements of Law and Judiciary Minister Nilesh Cabral terming these as “a derogatory and defamatory tirade against lawyers”.
The entire legal fraternity has unitedly sought an unconditional withdrawal of these statements.
A statement to this effect was issued by the North Goa Advocates’ Association, South Goa Advocates’ Forum, Mapusa Advocates’ Forum, Panaji Lawyers’ Forum, Bicholim Advocates’ Forum, Pernem Advocates’ Forum, Vasco Advocates’ Forum and Ponda Advocates’ Forum.
At a press conference convened on November 10, Cabral falsely alleged that lawyers in Goa are overcharging their clients at the time of conveyancing and registration of deeds and documents, and threatened to “simplify the procedures so much that advocates will not be required anymore".
While welcoming the suggestion of simplifying procedures, the legal fraternity condemned the remarks against the legal professionals.
“The Minister has no qualifications for deciding what the minimum charges of the lawyers should be. The tirade of the Minister has made a mockery of the legal professionals in Goa and amounts to defamation,” members of the associations and forums charged.
It was further pointed out that the government will be well advised to reduce the exponential increase in court fees as also to reduce the increase in land rates for levying stamp duty on the instruments of transfer of property.
“The government instead of reducing the court fees, land rates, Revenue Department-related fees during the pandemic has increased the same causing burden to the common man,” the forums stated.
