Support charter seeking to stop environmental damage and protect Goa’s identity
Former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai (left) and former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka.
PANAJI
The “Enough is Enough” movement launched by former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Ferdino Rebello, has received support from former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka.
Backing from the two senior jurists adds weight to the movement’s 10-point Charter of Demands, which seeks to stop environmental damage and protect Goa’s identity and cultural ethos.
In his written message, Gavai said the charter is rooted in constitutional values and settled legal principles. “The Charter reflects not merely a set of demands, but a principled constitutional vision, which is firmly anchored in the rule of law, environmental jurisprudence, and the idea of the State as a trustee of natural and public resources,” he stated.
Referring to his own experience, he added, “Having myself delivered many judgments on environmental law, I find the Charter’s invocation of well-settled principles of environmental and constitutional law as quite compelling.”
Placing it in a wider context, Gavai said the charter is “situated within the larger historical and constitutional narrative of Goa,” recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters, the fight for recognition of Konkani and statehood, and “the right of Goans to remain stakeholders, not outsiders, in their own land.”
He stressed that development must benefit people and protect the future, rather than displace communities or harm the environment. He also expressed hope that constitutional authorities would give the charter “the serious consideration that it deserves.”
In his message, Abhay Oka also spoke strongly, warning that “the State’s failure to perform its constitutional and statutory duties leads to the destruction of the ecosystem and the pollution of air and water.” He said this violates citizens’ fundamental right under Article 21 “to live in a pollution-free environment and to lead a dignified life.”
Oka said Goa’s authorities carry a special responsibility.
“This State has a gift of natural beauty and a rich heritage. They have a duty to protect the same at any cost.” Warning against what he called so-called development, he added, “There can be no real development that takes place by destroying the environment,” and ended by fully supporting the movement to stop environmental damage in Goa.
