MARGAO
The DMA has suspended the Chief Officer’s order pending disposal of the matter, which has now been fixed for hearing on December 13, at 11 am. The MMC has been further directed to immediately inform the managements of the burial grounds and crematoriums on the DMA’s order. The DMA issued the order after hearing Adv Satish Sonark representing Vincent Andrade and the Municipal lawyer, Adv Santosh Naik.
Adv Satish Sonark has said that in view of the DMA’s order dated December 1, the Margao Municipal Council’s earlier order directing the managements of burial grounds and crematoriums stand restored.
The MMC order had directed the managements of crematoriums and burial grounds to either make the necessary arrangement in their existing burial/crematorium grounds for people professing any faith or arrange for separate common burial ground. The order had stated that the civic body has acted on a circular issued by outgoing Director of Municipal Administration Elvis Gomes to make suitable arrangement and reserve a portion of land in the existing burial/crematorium grounds for any persons professing any faith.
Arguing on behalf of Vincent Andrade, Adv Sonark pointed out that the MMC had persistently defaulted in complying with the statutory duty of making available cremation and burial grounds for the citizens.
