GFG says govt suppressed material information which amounts to contempt of High Court
PANAJI
NGO Goans for Goa (GFG) has slammed the Goa government’s silence on the Central government’s corrigendum regarding OCI applications, as the deadline to decide on one such case ends on June 2.
“On May 6, the defence attorney for the government did not present this corrigendum in the High Court, even though it was issued on April 30, eight days before the petition was disposed of. This suppression of material information is a serious violation amounting to contempt of court,” said GFG Founder President Kennedy Afonso.
On April 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an Office Memorandum stating that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) accepted “Revocation Certificates” as alternative documents instead of “Surrender Certificates.” However, the MEA later issued a corrigendum clarifying that this matter is currently under consideration by the MHA.
The High Court, while hearing several petitions challenging the revocation of Indian passports held by Goan origins with Portuguese nationality, had directed the Regional Passport Office and related government agencies to adhere to the April 4 MEA OM, which conveyed the MHA's decision for OCI registration.
One petitioner argued that he could not provide a passport surrender certificate because the RPO had instead issued him a revocation certificate, to which directions were issued to the authorities to reconsider his application within four weeks. Despite the May 6 order, the government failed to update the High Court about the April 30 corrigendum.
“The Government of India must honour its commitment made before the High Court, accept the May 6 order, and issue a circular stating that it will be issuing OCI henceforth. This would resolve the matter for good. If the MHA does not accept the High Court order, the defence attorney must present the corrigendum in the High Court before the June 2 deadline, so that the court can pass a fresh judgment to provide relief to the affected people,” Afonso said.
Deputy Solicitor General of India Pravin Faldessai, when contacted by The Goan, stated that a fresh submission will be made to the High Court; however, specific instructions from the ministries and RPO are still awaited.
