INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE AT GOA IS A SCAM IN THE OFFING ALLEGES AIRES

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today alleged that the proposed International Arbitration Centre at Goa was a major scam in the offing.  Cautioning the Goa Government not to associate or get itself involved with it, Adv. Rodrigues has demanded a thorough probe into the setting up of the proposed International Arbitration Centre by misusing the Law Commission of Goa.

Adv. Rodrigues has sought to know how the Law Commission members could actively associate themselves en bloc to form this private Trust, giving a colour that the International Arbitration Centre is an official entity of the State Government.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the Goa Law Commission has no business to promote and actively participate in the setting up of an international arbitration centre.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the International Arbitration Centre was being set up by a private trust set up by Law Commission Chairman Ramakant Khalap, and commission members Adv. Cleofato Coutinho and Adv. Mario Pinto Almeida.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the fourth member of the trust is one Mr. V.K.Agarwal from Delhi whose profession is also not disclosed in the trust deed

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that it was very apparent that the Chairman and members of the Goa Law Commission by misusing their position have formed a private Trust, purely as a commercial enterprise.

Giving further details Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the trust deed under the name “ Goa Organisation for Law Finance and Education” was registered on 25th Nov 2010 under a fictitious registered address on Panjim’s 18th June Road.

Adv. Rodrigues has also alleged that that the Goa Law Commission was sought to be involved in the setting up the International Arbitration Centre to legitimize this planned fraud.

Stating that the Supreme Court had recently expressed concern about the rot in the Judiciary, Adv. Rodrigues has questioned the need of the government to associate itself with a trust which has been set up with alleged ulterior vested motives.

Adv. Rodrigues has urged the State Government not to lend support to this Trust which is purely a private Trust, for achieving its private objectives. He also demanded that no property of the State Government be made available to this Trust over which the Government would have no control.

Adv. Rodrigues also demanded that the State Government should enquire into the functioning of the Law Commission to verify whether its premises and machinery is being misused for the setting up and functioning of this Trust.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that International arbitration is being currently conducted at New Delhi by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) and the Indian Council of Dispute Resolution (ICADR).

Stating that ICA and ICADR are both societies registered under the Societies registration Act 1860 with their affairs performed with utmost transparency Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the proposed International Arbitration Centre at Goa will be run by a private trust that will be not be accountable to the public.

Adv. Rodrigues has today in letters to Union Law Minister Dr. Veerappa Moily, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Ferdino Rebello and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat requested them in public interest not to be associated with the inaugural function of the International Arbitration Centre scheduled for January 4th .