RAMAKANT KHALAP’S APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF GOA LAW COMMISSION TO BE CHALLENGED

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that he would in public interest challenge before the Bombay High Court at Goa the appointment of former Union Law Minister Mr. Ramakant Khalap as the Chairman of the Goa Law Commission.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the Goa government’s “political” decision to withdraw the three charge sheets that were filed against Mr. Ramkant Khalap will also be challenged.

Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that on the day Mr. Ramakant Khalap was appointed as the Chairman of the Goa Law Commission, the three bank corruption related charge sheets were pending against him.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the three charge-sheets were filed against Ramakant Khalap under various Sections including 420 of Indian Penal Code in connection with his intention to defraud and causing loss of crores of rupees to the Mapusa Urban Cooperative Bank of Goa.

Stating that a Chairman of a Law Commission has to be also non-partisan, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Mr. Ramakant Khalap was an active politician and a spokesman of the Congress Party in Goa.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that all State Law Commissions in the country except in Maharastra are currently headed by retired Supreme Court or High Court Judges with senior legal luminaries as members.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that in Maharastra the Law Commission is headed by a former very Senior Law bureaucrat who was also the State Election Commissioner.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that unlike in Goa two retired District Court judges and the Law Secretary of Maharastra are also the members of the Maharastra Law Commission.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that there were distinguished retired high Court judges in Goa who could have headed the Goa Law Commission along with very reputed retired District Court judges who could have also been members of the Goa Law Commission.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the appointment of Mr. Ramakant Khalap was devoid of merits, against laid down procedures and protocol but out of political compulsions to rehabilitate Mr. Ramakant Khalap with cabinet status by appointing him as Chairman of the Goa Law Commission.