MARGAO
Social activist, Adv Aires Rodrigues on Sunday said he was intervening in the 2012 Velim case only to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice as the manner in which the case is sought to be unlawfully withdrawn would be a mockery of the justice delivery system which cannot be allowed to go unnoticed.
Stating that it would be infact gross injustice to the accused in the Velim case if the case is illegally withdrawn, Adv Rodrigues has demanded that the government should prove its bonafides by following the due process of law and lawfully delivering justice to the accused in the Velim case.
Reiterating that Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure code empowers the government to withdraw any criminal proceedings only after following the due process of law which has not been done in the Velim case, Adv Rodrigues has stated that the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court have laid down the law that the government can withdraw criminal proceedings only after proper application of mind and giving apt reasons including hearing the complainant and victims in the case.
Pointing out that the law does not differentiate or discriminate an accused based on his caste, creed or social status, Adv Rodrigues has stated that the rule of law should prevail at all times and criminal cases cannot be illegally filed and withdrawn at the whims and fancies of politicians in power.
Stating that a wrong and unlawful precedent would be set in high-handedly and illegally withdrawing the Velim case, Adv Rodrigues has questioned as to why all other criminal cases pending in courts across Goa should also not be withdrawn using this same yardstick which is sought to be illegally invoked in the Velim case.
