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The High Court on Thursday upheld his contentions and while quashing aside the order of the central prescribed authority
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The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday granted relief to Benaulim MLA Caetano Silva alias Caitu, setting aside an order of the “Central Prescribed Authority” which had declared Silva as a Portuguese national under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act.
“Caetano Silva had challenged the decision of the prescribed authority on grounds that the decision was taken without giving him a hearing and on grounds of natural justice,” a source told The Goan.
The High Court on Thursday upheld his contentions and while quashing aside the order of the central prescribed authority asked the authority to hear the case afresh and decide on the matter in three months in accordance with law.
With this development, the order on the disqualification plea filed by Valanka Alemao back in 2012, which was scheduled for October 25 is likely to be postponed further.
“If the order were to against Silva the order in the disqualification petition would have also been subsequently pronounced,” the source said.
Valanka had petitioned the Bombay High Court at Goa alleging that Silva has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a Foreign State ie Portugal, with effect from July 21, 2010 citing the fact that he made an application and secured his birth registered with the Central Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Lisbon and this registration, in terms of the relevant provisions of the Portuguese Law, makes the person a Portuguese citizen.
