log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY MAY 2, 2023 GOA @thegoaneveryday Water pipeline bursts at Guirim MAPUSA: The underground water pipeline on the Guirim-Mapusa service road ruptured yet again and part of the road caved in early Monday morning. The rupture to the pipeline resulted in wastage of vast quantities of water even as the PWD officials rushed in and began work to repair it.  >> See pg 3 Huge fire engulfs hillock at Chapoli CANACONA: A huge fire engulfed a hillock at Chapoli, a few kilometres from the Chapoli dam in Canacona. According to Fire Services, the fire tender had been stationed along a nearby road, as it could not gain access to the site of the fire.>> See pg 3 Bike rider dies in road accident MAPUSA: In a self-accident, Riaz Allasab Pinjar (33) of Gadag, Karnataka died after his two-wheeler skidded off the road near the Fat Fish Restaurant Arpora and hit a roadside traffic police booth. The accident happened at around 9.45 am on Monday. Truck damages shop, 9 vehicles at Kundaim PANAJI: In a major accident, a container truck lost control on the Kundaim slope and rammed into a shop, 3 cars and 6 two-wheelers. Five persons were injured in the accident. An agitated crowd later blocked the highway demanding solution to the repeated accidents at this spot. Five arrested for online gambling PANAJI: Five persons were arrested and Rs 5 lakh worth items used for online gambling were seized by the Crime Branch in a raid near Cuncolim Industrial Estate. According to information, the mastermind is still at large. Huge cut in price of commercial LPG NEW DELHI: Price of commercial LPG, one which is used by business establishments like hotels and restaurants, on Monday was cut by a steep Rs 171.5 per cylinder and rates of jet fuel (ATF) were reduced by by 2.45 per cent on softening international oil prices. Domestic cooking gas LPG prices remained unchanged. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 35 C 25 C 85% Low: 02:56 14:48 High: 09:07 20:48 The Goan (Playstore) 13 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 314 Infra neglected, traffic takes hit at railway crossings in Salcete IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 2 GOA Construction Labour Welfare Fund corpus now touches `500 cr 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Most effective home remedies for rosacea on face 10 SPORTS IPL: RCB clinches low-scoring thriller against LSG Disciplinary action against three PIs raises eyebrows ALL 3 FACING SAME ALLEGATIONS, BUT HANDED DIFFERENT PUNISHMENT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amidst a flurry of disciplinary action against three police inspectors (PIs) for their gross negligence in handling cases of violence against women, the department is now rife with murmurs of discontent. Reason? Many are questioning the fairness of punishment meted out, though all three are facing the same allegations of “delaying the registration of FIRs.” Last Saturday, the top brass displayed zero tolerance for sluggish response to such crimes by suspending Valpoi PI Prajyot Phadte, transferring Lady PI Sandhya Gupta and issuing show cause notice to Agassaim PI Vikram Naik. But why all are not dealt with in the same manner, has left many wondering if there was any transparency and ac- FLASHBACK: THE CASES IN POINT CASE 1: Valpoi PI delayed registering FIR into the rape of a minor. The accused also uploaded her offensive images online ACTION: Suspended CASE 2: PI Sandhya Gupta delayed taking immediate cognizance of rape of a teenager, who accused her father was repeatedly raping her, and she had to undergo four forced abortions. PI Gupta allegedly sent her back with a helpline number, as the victim had exams ACTION: Transferred on line duty at PHQ CASE 3: After Women PS’ failure to register the case, Pink Force took the victim to Agassaim PS. No case was registered and she was shifted to Old Goa PS sans Zero FIR ACTION: Show cause notice issued countability. In addition, there are whispers of political meddling despite the department recently issuing a circular that it will be met with severe consequences. As there’s a sense of uneasiness within the department, Phadte’s suspension incidentally came in after he purportedly had a fallout with his superior, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sagar Ekoskar. Meanwhile, in a separate rape offense, PI Gupta received only a mild transfer despite turning back a rape victim on the pretext of taking her complaint after her exams. The officer’s approach to the matter eventually led >Continued on P5 ALLEGATIONS & QUESTIONS ALLEGATION: The Valpoi PI tried to compromise an alleged rape case filed by the minor’s father against her male friend QUESTIONS: If he did so, the FIR registered on the very day of the complaint, or, what circumstances made him register the offense that same night? Are police higher-ups aware of the dispute between the Valpoi DySP and PI? Did the PI seek a transfer before his suspension? Did the two engage in a verbal duel, if yes, has the department taken cognizance of the matter? ALLEGATION: Lady PI Sandhya Gupta turned back the victim of rape, after which the survivor was shifted from one PS to another for the next few days QUESTION: Why no FIR irrespective of the victim’s subsequent dilemma whether or not to punish her alleged rapist father? If the PI had the intention to register the FIR, why was the girl sent back and asked to call 112 helpline instead? ALLEGATIONS: The Agassaim PI did not register Zero FIR when 112 took the victim to the PS. QUESTION: Is Zero FIR necessitated when the distance between Agassaim and Old Goa PS is not even 15 kms, and has one SDPO? If yes, why no Zero FIR, that could have ended the issue then and there Allegations: Old Goa PI registered FIR three days later despite being the offense jurisdiction MAIN QUESTION: Why is the department tight-lipped on the entire issue? BJP manifesto assures Kalasa project will be completed in time Uniform Civil Code, NRC, free gas cylinders thrice a year also in list THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In another heart-burn for Goa, BJP on Monday released its manifesto for the Karnataka elections assuring timebound completion of the Kalasa Bhandura project and all other irrigation projects in that State. KARNATAKA ELECTIONS In its manifesto for the May 10 Assembly polls, BJP also promised implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), free cooking gas cylinders thrice a year for BPL families and ‘’Atal’’ food centres to provide affordable and healthy food. The manifesto released by BJP national president J P Nadda states that Karnataka will have a comprehensive ir- Deafening music menace continues to rock Anjuna THE GOAN I NETWORK Clubs hold trance parties till the wee hours MAPUSA While authorities play the game of passing the parcel, night clubs and restaurants along the Anjuna-Vagator coast continue to blast music throughout the night, particularly during the weekends. The High Court directions on loud music are ignored with impunity as the clubs hosting trance parties continue to belt out high decibel music inconveniencing local residents and the smaller guest houses that patronise tourists. Complaints made by locals are more often than not, either ignored or forwarded to other authorities to take action. But apart from the official correspondence there is little or most often no action. This weekend on a complaint made by local Desmond Alvares, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) wrote to the Collector, SDM, SP North and Anjuna Police Inspector to ensure that no loud music is played beyond the 10 pm deadline. “The Board is time and again in receipt of telephonic and written complaints from Desmond Alvares regarding late night parties/noise pollution. You are requested to ensure that no outdoor music is played beyond 10 pm at the venues mentioned by the complainant or any other venues along the coastal belt,” said Shamila Monteiro, Member Secretary, GSPCB in a letter to the Anjuna PI and the other authorities. The letter, which was issued as recently as April 28, also mentions the names of a number of clubs/restaurants in Anjuna. However, the GSPCB let- ter did not translate into action on the ground and the clubs continued to blast the music beyond 10 pm and some even till the wee hours next day. “I have been complaining about this loud music nuisance time and again. But who the hell cares. The GSPCB blames the police and vice versa. They don’t even fear the courts,” Alvares said in sheer desperation. He said loud trance parties go on every day and night in full swing even as the local police feign ignorance. Apparently, Anjuna Police are the biggest culprits and fail to take action on complaints. A resident of Vagator, Jawish Moniz informed that loud music has become a cause of great distress in the village but people were helpless due to lethargic behaviour of the authorities. “I made several complaints to the police and various other authorities concerned but all of them play a deaf ear to my appeal,” Moniz said. rigation system. “All irrigation projects like Bhadra, Upper Krishna, Kalasa Bhandura will be completed in a timebound manner”. It also ensured 100 per cent coverage of all existing lift irrigation projects with Field Irrigation Channels and implementation of Israeli model of drip irrigation. The PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for last-mile delivery of water to farms will also be leveraged. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stirred a hornet’s nest during a campaign meeting in Karnataka saying the water of Mhadei river has been diverted after taking the Goa Chief Minister into confidence. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, later had made a statement in the House that he had not given any commitment to the people of Karnataka on diversion of Mhadei river during his campaign in the neighbouring State. Goa’s April GST collection swells to `620 crore DESPITE HIGH COURT DIRECTIONS… THE GOAN I NETWORK 13 FIGHT FOR RIGHT: Thousands of workers including those from mining, shipyard, factories, industrial and commercial establishments participate in a rally organised to mark ‘May Day’ in Panaji on Monday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Need to enumerate migrant workers to check crime: CM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has underscored the need for every labourer working here to be on the books and provided a 'labour card' saying it is otherwise difficult to reach them either to provide benefits of welfare schemes or to control crime, majority of which are committed by migrant workers. "Every migrant worker coming into Goa should have a labour card. It is essential. Otherwise anyone comes, commits crime and disappears. It becomes difficult to apprehend them," Sawant said, lacing the comment with the argument that it (labour cards) will he help in providing labourers facilities like sanitation, housing and other facilities onsite, including educational facilities and schol- arships for their children. Sawant was addressing officers and others at the 'Labour Day' function organised by the office of the State Labour Commissioner. Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate was also in attendance as was the Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes. The Chief Minister, who >Continued on P5 PANAJI Goa’s Goods and Services Tax revenue collection for April 2023 registered a big jump fetching Rs 620 crore. This is Rs 105 crore more than the GST revenue collection of March 2023 which stood at Rs 515 crore. It is also 32 per cent more than GST revenue collection of the State for April 2022 which stood at Rs 470 crore. Nationally, the GST revenue collection for April 2023 was the highest-ever at Rs 1.87 lakh crore, the government said. Last month's gross GST collection was more than the previous highest in April 2022 by Rs 19,495 crore or 12 per cent higher than the GST collection year-on-year. The centre collected Rs 68,228 crore on April 20 -- the highest-ever single-day collection. The government's data shows GST collection increased by more than 10 per cent every month since January 2023. "The revenues for April 2023 are 12 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year," the government's Press Information Bureau said in a statement. Mopa taxi operators protest, SC can now grant divorce using special powers threaten rasta-roko today PTI T Want taxi stand at airport notified THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM Local taxi operators from Pernem have warned of a road-blockade agitation from May 2, if they are not allotted a yellow-black taxi stand at Manohar International Airport immediately. The taxi operators issued the warning after taking part in a protest rally on Monday and visiting the local temple to seek blessings ahead of their protest. The operators warned that if a yellow-black taxi stand is not notified and orders are not issued immediately, they would proceed to the Nagzar junction and stop all vehicles travelling to and from the Mopa airport. They claimed that a written application demanding a yellow-black taxi stand at the Manohar International Airport had been submitted on January 23. “Taking note of our petition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and local MLA Pravin Arlekar had assured that our demands would be fulfilled. However, not a single demand has yet been fulfilled and we have now lost our patience,” said a taxi operator Bhaskar Narulkar. NEW DELHI he Supreme Court held on Monday it has the discretion to dissolve a marriage on the ground of irretrievable breakdown in exercise of its plenary power under Article 142 (1) of the Constitution and can grant divorce by mutual consent while dispensing with the 6-month waiting period mandated under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Article 142 deals with enforcement of decrees and orders of the apex court to do “complete justice” in any matter pending before it. As per Article 142(1), a decree passed or an order made by SC is executable throughout the territory of India. Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act deals with divorce by mutual consent and “The government should immediately allot us our legitimate taxi stand and notify it in the newspapers. If the government fails to do this, we will stage a rasta-roko and will not allow a single vehicle to pass towards the Mopa airport from the Nagzar junction.” “The taxi operators had already warned the government eight days ago that they would start an agitation if their demands were not fulfilled, and this agitation will continue till the time taxi stand is not allotted.” Narulkar complained that >Continued on P5 SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Grant of divorce by SC on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not a matter of right, but a discretion which is to be exercised with great care and caution, keeping in mind that complete justice is done to both parties „„This discretionary power is to be exercised to do complete justice to the parties, wherein this court is satisfied that the facts established show that the marriage has completely failed and there is no possibility that the parties sub-sec (2) to this provision provides, after the first motion has been passed, the parties would have to move the court with the second motion, if the petition is not withdrawn in the meanwhile, after six months and not later than 18 months of the first motion. A five-judge bench headed by Justice S K Kaul said grant of divorce by the apex court on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not a matter of right, but a discretion which is to be exercised with great care and caution, keeping in mind several factors ensuring that complete justice is done to both parties. will cohabit together „„As a court of equity, the top court is required to balance the circumstances and the background in which the party opposing the dissolution is placed „„As per Article 142(1), a decree passed or an order made by the apex court is executable throughout the territory of India The bench was dealing with questions, including whether the top court can grant divorce in exercise of power under Article 142(1) of the Constitution when there is complete and irretrievable breakdown of marriage in spite of the other spouse opposing the prayer. This question is also an- swered in the affirmative, inter alia, holding that this court, in exercise of power under Article 142(1) of the Constitution of India, has the discretion to dissolve the marriage on the ground of its irretrievable breakdown, said the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, A S Oka, Vikram Nath and J K Maheshwari. This discretionary power is to be exercised to do complete justice to parties, wherein court is satisfied that facts established show marriage has completely failed and there is no possibility that the parties will cohabit, and continuation of the formal legal relationship is unjustified, it said. The bench said as a court of equity, the top court is required to balance the circumstances and the background in which the party opposing the dissolution is placed.