SATURDAY MARCH 22, 2025 14 pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 273 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Paper leak: Police register criminal case against prof CHARGE HIM WITH TRESPASS, FORGERY, CHEATING AFTER GU FILES PLAINT WHAT THE FIR SAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK page 8 Dancers of Goan origin shine at FLAME 2025 in Wembley Goan is Vice Chair for Chamber of Shipping at British Columbia IN SHORT >> Head clerk dismissed for misappropriation MAPUSA: The Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour has dismissed its head clerk, Pratik Gawas, from government service for misappropriating nearly Rs 24 lakh from staff salaries.   >> See pg 3 2 held for murder of poultry farm worker VASCO: Two persons have been arrested on charges of murdering a worker and seriously injuring another at a poultry farm in Cortalim. >> See pg 3 Belagavi bandh today, may affect Goans  >> See pg 7 student, thereby cheating other students," reads the FIR, copy of which is in possession of The Goan. Naik, police said, will soon be issued summons for questioning. He has been booked under sections 336(3) (forgery), 329(4) (trespassing), 331(3) (housebreaking or lurking house trespass), and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Earlier, based on the fact-finding committee report, the Goa University filed an 19 „„Naik allegedly made duplicate keys of cabins of multiple faculty members without their consent „„He unlawfully accessed certain faculty cabins without permission On c h PANAJI In a late night development, the Agassaim police registered a criminal case against suspended Goa University assistant professor Pranav Naik in connection with the alleged paper leak. The police have charged him with trespassing, breaking in, forgery and cheating following a complaint filed by GU Registrar Professor S N Dhuri. As per the FIR, Naik allegedly made duplicate keys of the cabins of multiple faculty members without their consent and unlawfully accessed certain faculty cabins without permission. "He breached the privacy and security of other members and also engaged in the assessment of examination papers for one specific female M ar official complaint before the Agassaim police. The Varsity has also decided to place the report before the Disciplinary Authority that is the Executive Council for appropriate action against the alleged accused assistant professor. In a press statement is- PAKISTAN CRUSHES NEW ZEALAND BY NINE WICKETS IN THIRD T20I >> P14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 „„He breached privacy and security of other members „„Engaged in assessment of exam papers for one specific female student, thereby cheating others sued on Friday, the University said that it had constituted a Fact-Finding Committee to submit a prima facie report on the alleged matter and based on the report submitted by the Committee, the University has lodged a complaint before the Police Inspector, Agassaim Police Station to register an FIR against Pranav Naik to investigate further on the “unauthorized unlawful activities carried out by him”. “Further, it is decided to place the matter before the Disciplinary Authority i.e. the Executive Council, a meeting of which is scheduled during the last week of March 2025 for an appropriate Disciplinary Action against the said employee,” the University said. The alleged professor is already placed under suspension pending inquiry proceedings. >Continued on P9 Varsity teachers say ‘no’ to stadium lease deal Want decision reviewed, sanctity of GU upheld THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa University teachers on Friday held a silent protest opposing the State government’s decision to lease out Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium to private players. The teachers have demanded that the government should reconsider its decision. The State Cabinet on Thursday approved to lease the stadium, located on the Taleigao plateau to Mumbai-based showbiz company Dome Entertainment Private Pvt Ltd for 10 years. The deal is expected to earn the government revenue of about Rs 25.5 lakh every month. Also, a provision in the deal will permit the government to use the stadium whenever the need arises at no cost. Speaking to media persons, Goa University Teachers Association President Ramrao Wagh demanded that the government should reconsider its N Collector rolls back contentious comp off memo PANAJI The office of the District Collector, North Goa, has finally withdrawn the five-month-old memorandum that contained a controversial clause denying compensatory leave to staff attending offices on Saturdays. The withdrawal, made in compliance with recommendations from the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC), comes with a condition that staff must mark their attendance every two hours. “In view of the recommendation of the GHRC, the memorandum dated October 30, 2024, issued by this office is withdrawn to the extent that ‘no compensatory off shall be granted to the staff who are attending the offices on Saturdays,’ subject to the condition that the concerned staff shall mark their attendance on the biometric machine every two hours,” reads the fresh mem- orandum signed by North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte. It further stated that the concerned Mamlatdar/Joint Mamlatdar shall certify the attendance, after which the staff will be granted compensatory leave as per eligibility and law. On February 26, the GHRC recommended that the North Goa Collector amend the previous memorandum >Continued on P9 M ar c “If the government decides to go ahead then the movement may intensify,” Wagh said. Another teacher pointed out that the facility was one of the visions of former CM late Manohar Parrikar who wanted to develop Goa into one of the best Sports destinations. “BJP government should respect >Continued on P9 CAUTIONS OF ‘STRINGENT ACTION’ THE GOAN I NETWORK UNJUST PLAY Petitioners alleged unfair treatment, irregular work distribution, excessive workload for select employees, lack of compensatory benefits, workplace threats and violations of their rights decision in the interest of students and in order to maintain the sanctity of the University, which is located in the vicinity. He said that the facility was developed as a preferred Sports infrastructure but later was rented out to host various events. The teachers have decided to approach the government requesting a rethink. On Cong Goa in-charge warns cadre against indiscipline in party MAMLATDAR TO CERTIFY, GRANT LEAVE THE GOAN I NETWORK ELVIS GOMES OPPOSES LEASING STADIUM TO PRIVATE PARTY >> See pg 5 20 @thegoanonline h log on to thegoan.net STEPS OF DEVOTION: Faithful participate in the Way of the Cross outside St Michael’s Church, Taleigao on Friday. This is a significant Lenten tradition where devotees reflect on the sufferings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Goa plans Ram Nivas in Ayodhya THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced that the Goa government has acquired a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of Ram Nivas. “It is with immense joy that I announce the Government of Goa has acquired a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of Goa Ram Nivas - a dedicated space for devotees of Shri Ramlala Virajman, especially from Goa,' Goa CM posted on X. He said the upcoming building will strengthen the spiritual bond between Parshuram Bhoomi of Goa and Ayodhya, fostering devotion, culture, and unity. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, the dream of a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has become a reality, rekindling our spiritual and cultural heritage. In alignment with this historic movement, Goa Ram Nivas will provide a >Continued on P9 PANAJI All India Congress Committee's (AICC) Goa in-charge and former Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Thakare on Friday talked tough on inner-party discipline and has warned of "stringent action" against indiscipline in the party in Goa. Thakare was speaking to party workers at the GPCC headquarters in Panaji where newly appointed Goa Mahila Congress president Pratiksha Khalap was inducted on Friday. All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba, GPCC President Amit Patkar, AICC Secretary-in-Charge Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, Girish Chodankar and other office bearers were present. Thakare said, some people in the Goa Congress have forgotten about party discipline and are spreading mischievous stories in the media. "Indiscipline will not be AAP, TMC vote splitters: Nimbalkar PANAJI: AICC secretary and former Karnataka MLA, Dr Anjali Nimbalkar said AAP and Trinamool Congress are working to split votes in Goa. “They did it in the last assembly elections. In 2027, people of Goa will support only Congress. Therefore, both these parties should not repeat the mistake of coming to Goa”, she said. tolerated anymore. Strict action will be taken against such people," Thakare said. "Some party decisions are taken at the Central leadership level. Everyone should welcome these decisions without secretly opposing them. If someone wants to leave the party, they should," >Continued on P9 Princess saga: Court overturns Power outage at Heathrow, Goans among thousands hit Tourism Dept’s `166 cr order LUI GODINHO THE GOAN I LONDON SAYS IT VIOLATES PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL JUSTICE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday quashed and set aside an order of the Director of Tourism, the competent authority under the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001 that had ordered M/s Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd to pay an amount of Rs 166.41-crore as costs of having to remove the M V River Princess, an ore carrier, that ran aground along the Candolim beach in 2000. The division bench of Justices A S Chandurkar and Nivedita P Mehta, ruled that the order violated the principles of natural justice and that the competent authority would have to undertake the exercise afresh after complying with the principles of natural justice and giving an opportunity to the petitioner M/s Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd to be heard or to contest the amount of expenses sought to be recovered from it. Salgaocar Mining Indus- tries, a company run by former MLA Anil Salgaocar (since deceased), currently has his son Arjun Salgaocar listed as one of its directors. “It is an admitted fact that the original order dated 15/07/2019 was passed by the Competent Authority without granting any opportunity to the petitioner… There cannot be any doubt that an order passed under Section 8 of the Act of 2001 [The Goa Tourist Places (Protection >Continued on P9 T he shutdown of London Heathrow airport on account of a major power outage on Friday has not only affected Goan passengers travelling two and from the airport, but it has also affected the airport staff hailing from Goa and Goans residing in the vicinity of the airport. According to a Heathrow spokesperson, the airport experienced a significant power outage due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. This has forced authorities to close Heathrow airport till 23.59 GMT on Friday, to maintain the safety of passengers and staff. “We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,” the spokesperson stated. GOAN AIRPORT STAFF Goans play a crucial role in all sectors in and around Heathrow Airport and it is estimated that over 1,000 Goans are employed at the airport. Many of them have been asked not to report for work on Friday on account of the shutdown. According to Goans employed at Heathrow airport, there is no department or sector left at the airport where Smoke billows after a huge fire knocked out power to Heathrow airport on Friday. Goans are not present. Goans are prominently present in baggage handling operations, cleaning department, lounges/tea shops (at the counter, as stewards, chefs, etc), providing wheelchair assistance, Heathrow security, tug drivers, logistics, check-in desk, passengers ambassa- dors, trolleys support, electricians and technicians, and Heathrow Airport passenger bus drivers, etc. “The worst affected are those Goans on contracts who stand to lose their daily earnings if asked not to report to work. The authorities have maintained a skeleton staff to look after the necessary requirements,” informed a Goan employed at Heathrow airport. Added another Goan employee: “Most of the workforce or resources have been sent back.” GOAN PASSENGERS Over 1,300 flights and around 230,000 passengers are >Continued on P9