log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan SUNDAY OCTOBER 20, 2024 18 pages The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.123 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 18 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 15 LIVE SMART »PAGE 16 Kyunki raat jawan hai Why Ratan Tata mattered to all Gen Z vs Millennials: Work ethos clash SPORTS »PAGE 10 India flex batting muscle before collapsing Pursuit of inner peace Equity markets: What causes losses? New Zealand faces South Africa in T20 Women’s WC final Actress Priya Bapat opens up about her experience on the new show Movie review: A tale of unlikely bonds Why the death of the industry giant was a loss to even those who never met him Exploring the clash between work ethics and life balance across generations HC takes suo moto cognizance of Chief Secy named in Aldona land row now illegal constructions across Goa transferred to Delhi  OBSERVES STRUCTURES ARE ALONG ROADSIDES, CRZ AREAS  HEARING ON OCTOBER 22 TO DECIDE ON RESPONDENTS THE GOAN I NETWORK >> SEE PG 2 THE DARK UNDERBELLY OF COASTAL NORTH IS SHOWING MAGAZINE MAGAZ 11 A festival of faith, love & devotion International Chefs Day : Inspiring great chefs of tomorrow Noronha’s Corner: A taste of Goa on wheels Propagating ideologies of justice through institutional edifices 13 Malaika Vaz wins ‘Green Oscars’ award PANAJI: New York based Goan Malaika Vaz, a National Geographic explorer, has won ‘Green Oscars’ of wildlife filmmaking industry. >> See pg 7 Centenary tribute for Bhikoo Pai Angle PANAJI: Bhikoo Pai Angle, a celebrated figure in Margao, would have turned 100 this year. Remembered for his immense contributions, admirers will gather to honour his legacy.  >> See pg 7 PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken suo motu cognizance of the growing issue of illegal constructions in the State. The Court observed that most of these structures are being erected along roadsides, in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, and within village panchayat and municipal limits. The petition was triggered by a case which came before the High Court wherein the panchayat had failed to act against the illegal constructions and execute demolition orders for over 4 to 5 years. Briefing reporters on the petition, Advocate General Devidas Pangam said “the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of illegal constructions across the State, particularly along roadsides, in CRZ areas, and within village panchayat and municipal ju- CLAMPDOWN ON ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTIONS „„All illegal constructions in govt and private properties across Goa to come under purview of petition „„HC will now monitor the situation to determine whether panchayats are taking action against these illegal activities, and if Directorate of Panchayats is holding panchayats accountable „„No formal directions risdictions. These constructions, some temporary and some permanent, are coming up overnight”. Expressing concern that if such illegalities continue unabated, Goa will be destroyed and half the constructions in the State will turn out to be illegal, the High Court registered the petition. All illegal issued to any authorities „„HC has asked govt to „„LEGAL ACTION: The petition was triggered by a case which came before the High Court wherein the panchayat had failed to act against the illegal constructions and execute demolition orders for over 4 to 5 years. constructions in government and private properties across Goa come under the purview of the petition, he added. He further informed that the High Court will now monitor the situation to determine whether village panchayats are taking action against these illegal activities, and if the Directorate of Panchayats CJI moots ‘responsive courts’ to adapt to social changes SAYS LANGUAGE IN COURTS SHOULD NOT BE DEROGATORY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud made a case for ‘responsive courts’ saying the courts should be aware and abreast of the social changes happening and be sensitive to it while delivering justice. Justice Chandrachud who was speaking after inaugurating the newly built North Goa District and Sessions Court complex at Merces also impressed on judicial officers and lawyers to ensure that the language used in courts is not derogatory, thus fostering an environment of inclusivity. “It must be ensured that everyone feels valued and respected in our courts. Derogatory language, particularly against women, has no place here. Instead, we should adopt a language of inclusivity, respect and empowerment,” he stated. In terms of infrastructure, the CJI while pointing out that nearly 50 per cent of the new entrants into the legal field are now women, there is a need to ensure that stuff like With nearly 50 per cent of new entrants into the legal field being women, there is a need to ensure that stuff like washrooms and other spaces in court complexes are more gendersensitive — CJI Chandrachud ON PAGE 4 State-of-the-art District court complex at Merces inaugurated Nearly 2-hour delay leaves legal fraternity in audience fuming washrooms and other spaces in court complexes are more gender-sensitive. ORDERS IN REGIONAL LANGUAGES: The CJI also said judgements of courts should be made available in regional languages. “I am proud to announce that the Supreme Court has now begun translating its judgements in Konkani,” Chandrachud said, adding that he is confident that the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice D K Upadhyaya, will also make efforts to translate judgements of the Goa Bench to the local language to enable the people of the State understand them. JUDICIAL ACADEMY: Chandrachud, meanwhile, seconded an appeal made earlier by his Supreme Court colleague Justice A Oka, that the old transit premises of the district court at Altinho be allotted for setting up a ‘Judicial Academy’ and also an Arbitration Centre to make Goa a hub which can compete with Dubai and Singapore for international financial arbitration. Citing Goa’s global appeal and recognition, Chandrachud said, it could compete with Singapore where everyone is flocking for arbitration and resolution of financial >Continued on P8 GST rejig: Insurance premiums to be exempt; shoes, watches to cost more PTI NEW DELHI erm life insurance policies, and senior citizens’ health insurance premium are likely to be exempted from GST as most members of a state ministerial panel favoured cutting taxes to benefit the common man, an official said on Saturday. The GoM to decide on GST on health and life insurance premiums in its meeting on Saturday decided to exempt GST on premiums paid by individuals, other than senior citizens, for health insurance with coverage of Rs 5 lakh. T GOMs NEW PROPOSAL ON GST „„GST on packaged drinking water of 20 litre and above to be reduced „„Exercise notebooks to cost less as GST likely to be reduced to 5% from 12% „„GST on bicycles costing less than Rs 10,000 to be reduced to 5% from 12% „„GST on shoes above Rs However, 18% GST will continue to be levied for health insurance of over Rs 5 lakh. Separately, the GoM rate 15,000 a pair to be hiked from 18% to 28% „„Wrist watches above Rs 25,000 likely to attract 28% GST rationalisation, too, met on Saturday and suggested that the GST Council rejig tax rates on a host of goods, including explore solutions against menace of illegal constructions „„Matter has been scheduled for October 22 to decide on the respondents and to decide whether any urgent orders are required. packaged drinking water, bicycles, exercise notebooks, luxury wrist watches, and shoes. “The rate rejig exercise will help States and Centre to realise revenue gain of Rs 22,000 crore, which will help cover the revenue loss from reduction in GST rates for insurance premiums,” the official added. The GoM on rate rationalisation proposed reducing GST on packaged drinking water of 20 litre and above to 5 per cent from 18 per cent. If the GoM’s recommendation is accepted by the GST council, GST on bicycles costing less than Rs 10,000 will be reduced to 5 per cent from 12 per cent. is holding the panchayats accountable for failing to act. While no formal directions have been issued to any authorities, the High Court has asked the State government to explore solutions against the menace of illegal constructions, especially those that appear overnight, often over weekends. The matter has been scheduled for October 22 to decide on the respondents and to decide whether any urgent orders are required. The High Court has been hearing separate petitions on illegal constructions with orders to demolish these. In one such order, the single Bench of Justice B P Deshpande stated that no sympathy should be shown if the structures are proven illegal. Earlier this year, the Court asked the State to create a system with standard operating procedures against illegal constructions. While hearing a suo motu PIL into illegal constructions at Arambol, the Court also observed that lack of cooperation among various government authorities and departments was benefitting the offenders. In yet another similar petition, the High Court had directed the tourism department to crack down on illegal constructions on the beaches. Posted secy to Nat Commission for STs THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In an unexpected move, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has been transferred by the Ministry of Personnel, New Delhi, and has been appointed as Secretary to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Ministry of Tribal Affairs). Goel was promoted to Chief Secretary of Goa in February 2022. However, it remains unclear when he will be relieved from his current post. The order issued on Saturday incidentally comes just two days after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition was filed against him and others in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, challenging the alleged illegal zoning change of a property in Aldona. Goel is facing serious allegations of illegal land conversion with the High Court likely to hear the petition for admission next week. The petitioners have ZONING TROUBLE „„Goel facing serious allegations of illegal land conversion „„High Court likely to hear petition for admission next week „„Petitioners allege corruption in administration surrounding zoning change also alleged corruption in the administration surrounding the zoning change. Neither the State government nor Goel has commented on the allegations so far. His transfer is among eight IAS officers whose appointments have been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training).