By: Freddy Fernandes.
May His Spirit And Legacy Live Forever Man thou are dust and unto dust thou shall return, were the words that were rung in the ears of most Catholics in Goa on the 22nd of February this year, the symbolism of Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are indeed mere insignificant mortals, alive today gone the next. We do not know nor can we foretell the longevity of our existence. But we can be sure of one thing, sooner or later we will get the “call” which we will not be able to re-route nor will we be allowed an extension, so we will have to go, we come with nothing and we go with nothing but when we go, we do leave behind a trail, a trail that will reflect our existence.
I am sure Mr Mathany Saldanha nor any one else must have thought that the significance of Ash Wednesday would be a reality four weeks into lent. On that fateful day and at that fateful time he was called and he had to leave, as everyone else he may have taken nothing with him but with the trail that he has left behind, he has left us a legacy, a bountiful reflection of his existence, like any of us a mere mortal he may have been but what he has left behind is his immortal legacy.
Since his sudden and untimely demise, platitudes have been pouring in from all sides far and near, from friends and foes alike. Someone has even called him the father of activism in Goa. Yes, he was a born activist, a sublime orator and ofcourse a crowd puller, he was blessed with charisma that could turn any lateral movement into a tsunami of mass participation and I had seen this blitzing effect during the language and SEZ movements. These have been two gold stars among the many on his never ending silver lined resume.
Goa has indeed lost a dedicated and honest fighter of the Goans causes. He excelled in his fight for the rights of besieged fishermen and for the protection of our fragile environment. He had a vision of a corruption free and a greener Goa. Now with his untimely demise, it’s only appropriate that his friends and colleagues in the Goa administration keep alive his vision and his dreams of a better and a greener Goa in sync with his legacy.
It is very disheartening to note that Goan politics has stooped so low that even before the mortal remains of beloved Mathany Saldanha were buried there was a buzz about candidates for the by-election and a few even sighed a sigh of relief fancying their chances. It does show our shallow or hollow reverence and lack of respect for a man who gave so much to Goa and Goans without expecting much in return. A by-election will surely be on the cards but as a mark of respect for the departed Soul, it should have been left till an appropriate time.
In the last few days going through the writings on Mathany Saldanha in the print and electronic media I have realized that it is indeed true that, the worth of a person of the caliber of Mathany Saldanha is only know after his death or can anyone explain why a good person like Mathany won an election in Goa for just the second time whereas imbeciles, crooks and scamsters have been winning elections for the last 15 to 30 or even more years ?
We all know that Mathany Saldanha was a good person but it is not enough to say he was good, what we need to do is, promote and elect good and honest people only then we will get good governance in return. I surely hope the many aspiring to be politicians will take honest and dedicated Mathany Saldanha as their role model and try to walk in his footsteps and work for the greater glory of Goa and Goans like he did. May his spirit and legacy live forever and may we Goans elect good and honest politicians in future.
March 26, 2012
March 23, 2012
OFFICE OF ADVOCATE GENERAL IS NO ORDINARY POSITION.
By Aires Rodrigues
The Advocate General of a State is a very high Constitutional authority appointed under Article 165 of our constitution. The Office of the Advocate General is an exalted one. He is the supreme law officer of the State Government. Alike some other constitutional posts the selection of the Advocate General must also be through a high level committee so that the best legal brain in the State is selected. The appointment should not be politically motivated as the Advocate General represents the entire State and should have the gumption to tell the government of any wrong or malafide decision it takes. He is expected to give invaluable legal guidance to the State Government in formulation of its policy and execution of its decisions. India has seen some controversial and a few outstanding AGs
On August 6, 1998 Orissa’s controversial Advocate General Indrajit Ray quit as the demand for his dismissal had been a major issue for all Opposition political parties in the state after having been charge sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a molestation case.
In November 2004 the removal was sought of Kerala’s Advocate General, Ratna Singh, for his alleged links with the mafia. It was alleged that a lottery mafia, a sex mafia and a bail mafia were in operation at the Advocate General's office and there was a demand that there should be an independent inquiry into the activities of these mafia groups and the way they obstructed justice.
As India’s highest paid Advocate General the allegations against Subodh Kantak included the over billing in the Saleli case. As AG, Kantak had appeared in the High Court on 27th January 2006 in the Saleli case bail applications of 102 accused. Though it was a common argument for the batch of bail applications, Kantak raised a bill and was paid 102 times Rs. 8000 i.e. Rs. eight lakhs sixteen thousand. On the other charges of professional misconduct against him the less said the better. With two complaints pending against him before the Bar Council of Maharastra and Goa, anyone having some self-respect would have immediately put in his papers. It was only the ignominious defeat of the Congress government at the recent Assembly polls that forced Subodh Kantak’s exit.
Along side the controversial ones India has had some very outstanding Advocate Generals too. J M Thakore, Gujarat's advocate-general since 1960 has been the nation’s longest serving Advocate General. He worked under 27 state governments and 13 chief ministers, interspersed with five spells of President's rule. Mr. Thakore had the unique and remarkable distinction of holding the post of Advocate-General of Gujarat from the day the state was formed till his death, a period of over forty years. His fierce independence, dedication to the profession and unimpeachable conduct ensured that successive governments of widely differing political ideologies continued to allow him to hold the post of AG.
H.M. Seervai, India’s most outstanding lawyer, jurist and scholar in constitutional law was Advocate-General of Maharashtra for 17 years (1957 to 1974). Seervai’s total disconnection from politicians and politics was his greatest strength. He dedicatedly defended Government in Court but declined to defend government policies which he felt were against his convictions. Seervai maintained the high stature of his office because he was not a political appointee and did not consider himself one. Governments came and went but Seervai was not called upon to resign by the new government. For more than 50 years, Seervai was not only the country’s leading constitutional lawyer, but also a great scholar being the author of various works on Constitutional Law and is even today referred to as an authority in Courts. He achieved an exceptional stature and influence in public life by his inflexible integrity, strong courage and conviction. Seervai was quite unconcerned towards financial rewards in the profession and had contempt for lawyers who prided themselves in having a lucrative practice. Lucrative, according to him meant greed for gain. Once asked if it would be wrong to take high fees if clients were willing to pay them, Seervai retorted, “If a man was willing to be robbed would you be a thief?”
A Retired Judge of Madras High Court N. V. Balasubramaniam not long ago candidly remarked ‘It is easier to become a judge of a high court than an Advocate-General as it is difficult to get that post unless one is a qualified and a very meritorious person’. This sadly is not always the reality.
(the writer can be contacted on 9822684372 or airesrodrigues@yahoo.com)
The Advocate General of a State is a very high Constitutional authority appointed under Article 165 of our constitution. The Office of the Advocate General is an exalted one. He is the supreme law officer of the State Government. Alike some other constitutional posts the selection of the Advocate General must also be through a high level committee so that the best legal brain in the State is selected. The appointment should not be politically motivated as the Advocate General represents the entire State and should have the gumption to tell the government of any wrong or malafide decision it takes. He is expected to give invaluable legal guidance to the State Government in formulation of its policy and execution of its decisions. India has seen some controversial and a few outstanding AGs
On August 6, 1998 Orissa’s controversial Advocate General Indrajit Ray quit as the demand for his dismissal had been a major issue for all Opposition political parties in the state after having been charge sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a molestation case.
In November 2004 the removal was sought of Kerala’s Advocate General, Ratna Singh, for his alleged links with the mafia. It was alleged that a lottery mafia, a sex mafia and a bail mafia were in operation at the Advocate General's office and there was a demand that there should be an independent inquiry into the activities of these mafia groups and the way they obstructed justice.
As India’s highest paid Advocate General the allegations against Subodh Kantak included the over billing in the Saleli case. As AG, Kantak had appeared in the High Court on 27th January 2006 in the Saleli case bail applications of 102 accused. Though it was a common argument for the batch of bail applications, Kantak raised a bill and was paid 102 times Rs. 8000 i.e. Rs. eight lakhs sixteen thousand. On the other charges of professional misconduct against him the less said the better. With two complaints pending against him before the Bar Council of Maharastra and Goa, anyone having some self-respect would have immediately put in his papers. It was only the ignominious defeat of the Congress government at the recent Assembly polls that forced Subodh Kantak’s exit.
Along side the controversial ones India has had some very outstanding Advocate Generals too. J M Thakore, Gujarat's advocate-general since 1960 has been the nation’s longest serving Advocate General. He worked under 27 state governments and 13 chief ministers, interspersed with five spells of President's rule. Mr. Thakore had the unique and remarkable distinction of holding the post of Advocate-General of Gujarat from the day the state was formed till his death, a period of over forty years. His fierce independence, dedication to the profession and unimpeachable conduct ensured that successive governments of widely differing political ideologies continued to allow him to hold the post of AG.
H.M. Seervai, India’s most outstanding lawyer, jurist and scholar in constitutional law was Advocate-General of Maharashtra for 17 years (1957 to 1974). Seervai’s total disconnection from politicians and politics was his greatest strength. He dedicatedly defended Government in Court but declined to defend government policies which he felt were against his convictions. Seervai maintained the high stature of his office because he was not a political appointee and did not consider himself one. Governments came and went but Seervai was not called upon to resign by the new government. For more than 50 years, Seervai was not only the country’s leading constitutional lawyer, but also a great scholar being the author of various works on Constitutional Law and is even today referred to as an authority in Courts. He achieved an exceptional stature and influence in public life by his inflexible integrity, strong courage and conviction. Seervai was quite unconcerned towards financial rewards in the profession and had contempt for lawyers who prided themselves in having a lucrative practice. Lucrative, according to him meant greed for gain. Once asked if it would be wrong to take high fees if clients were willing to pay them, Seervai retorted, “If a man was willing to be robbed would you be a thief?”
A Retired Judge of Madras High Court N. V. Balasubramaniam not long ago candidly remarked ‘It is easier to become a judge of a high court than an Advocate-General as it is difficult to get that post unless one is a qualified and a very meritorious person’. This sadly is not always the reality.
(the writer can be contacted on 9822684372 or airesrodrigues@yahoo.com)
OBITUARY.
OBITUARY.
Guardian Angel Club - Kuwait, announces with deep sorrow passing away, one of the pillars of Konkani Tiatr REMMIE COLACO, who expired this (22/03/2012) morning in Curchorem-Goa.
Our prayers and condolences to his sorrowing wife Juliet, daughters and family members.
May the almighty GOD grant his soul internal peace.
Cajetan de Sanvordem,
President,
Guardian Angel Club (Kuwait).
Guardian Angel Club - Kuwait, announces with deep sorrow passing away, one of the pillars of Konkani Tiatr REMMIE COLACO, who expired this (22/03/2012) morning in Curchorem-Goa.
Our prayers and condolences to his sorrowing wife Juliet, daughters and family members.
May the almighty GOD grant his soul internal peace.
Cajetan de Sanvordem,
President,
Guardian Angel Club (Kuwait).
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