heraldgoa.in <http://www.heraldgoa.in> http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Caitu’s-PA-serves-notice-on-Churchill’s-citizenship/17842.html#.VAFtlWP_ro0 Caitu’s PA serves notice on Churchill’s citizenship A- A+
Elvis Gomes, the Personal Assistant to Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva has served a legal notice on the Prescribed Authority in the Union Home Ministry for not initiating the process to declare Churchill, his wife and children, except Valanka as Portuguese citizens. He has urged the Prescribed Authority to take a call on his petition within 15 days or has threatened to take the matter to the High Court. When contacted, Churchill, however, asserted that he has not registered his birth in Portugal nor has his wife and children acquired Portuguese passport. In the legal notice, Gomes pointed out that the Prescribed Authority has not held a single hearing since he filed his petition around six months ago on February 3 this year. “Injustice has been done to me by the Authority by not initiating the process against the former PWD minister and his wife. I will have no other option than to move the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Presiding Authority to initiate the process”, Gomes told Herald after his return from Delhi. Gomes has contended that Churchill has allegedly registered his marriage in Portugal, while wife Fatima, son Savio and daughters Sara, Wanda, Sharon and Aninha are now all Portuguese citizens after they got their births registered in Portugal in 2009. In December last, Gomes had filed a criminal petition with the Colva police with a petition to initiate action against Churchill and his family members under the provision of the Foreigners Act 1946, Registration of Foreigner Act 1939 and the Passport Act 1967. It has been his contention that under the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, it is mandatory for a foreigner entering, or being present in India to report his presence to a Prescribed Authority. But, he claimed that this was not complied and as such the seven persons have violated the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939. --- This is getting interesting. Though the Churchill instance is old, the new threat by Elvis Gomes should be taken seriously. He has a good point. The law must apply equally to all. It will be fun to watch the drama, in or out of court, unfold. The Caitu-Churchill battle will probably go to its length, and the winner is..... Eugene
