To Goanet - JoeGoaUk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > PIL on Vasco Baina beach ? > > Public Interest Litigation > > After sending some pics and video on Dirty Vasco Baina Beach (see repeated > belwo) I have received a few feedback concerning the sorry state of the beach. > > Which reminds me of a PIL filed by Rajan P Parrikar on Panjim. > > To Parrikar: > > Please briefly advise how to go about it? > What it takes? Whether lawyer’s services required, fees etc > How much did it cost you in all (till final disposal of the case) > (Pl. also include personal expenses like transport, phone calls/letter, tips > etc) > Total (personal) hours spent/ lost (approx.) may also mention > How long it took?
They say that recourse to the Court should the last resort. Things are so bad in India that I now fear that it is the only resort. This is a scary thought (think Villa Paradiso). But that is where we are, sad to say. For about 6 months I tried to get the CCP's attention, with letters and personal visits to the Panjim MLA, the Commissioner(s), and the Mayor. No dice. I was told off the record (by someone within the CCP) that one MLA from outside Panjim controlled the CCP and wouldn't allow honest officers in the CCP to do their job, that he and some of his sycophantic corporators had a migrant vote-bank to take care of, haftas to add up, that they didn't care two hoots about the city. In November 2007, I wrote a one-page letter to the Justices of the High Court describing what had become of Panjim and the CCP's dereliction of duty. This letter was suo moto converted into a PIL. The hearings ran for around 5 months and lot of things happened during that time, most of them covered in the press. A final order was passed on April 23, 2008. Despite the Court's directives, the city continues its downward slide. I have filed a contempt petition yesterday. I shall say no more about this until the matter comes up before the Court. Now, to answer some of your questions. You have two options: One, as described above, where you write to the Justices and pray that it is converted into a PIL. Two, where you hire an attorney right away and file a PIL. The expenses: since I appeared in person, there were no lawyer fees involved. I was prepared to hire a lawyer if I were impelled to take option 2. In the final month of the case, an Amicus Curiae was appointed to assist me. But there were other expenses - xerox charges, laser prints, prints of photos, transport etc. And then there is the time spent taking photographs, processing them, preparing documents, and so on and so forth. There were about 10 hearings in all and I was present in person for around 8. You report to the Court at 10:30 am and wait until your case comes up. It could be at 12:30 pm or it could get bumped to the evening session. So, the commitment in terms of time is not trivial. If I had to put a number: budget 5000 rupees plus the lawyer fees. > Before filing the PIL, I also remember of your appeal on Goanet asking if > anyone from Panjim etc would like to join you (including financial > contributions etc), did any one come back to you on this ? or any help > received? > I am just curious (you don’t have to furnish all this info if you don’t wish > to) Nobody in Goa came forward. But some Goans in America and UK (all Goanetters - you know who you are) offered to help. I did not trouble them but appreciated their gesture. I was looking more for mental commitment from the people here, not for their money. India has produced doctors, engineers, scientists and accountants - the kind Einstein described as "well-trained dogs" - but not citizens. Even a high school dropout in America has more experience in community service & volunteer work than a highly credentialed Indian. I must acknowledge Joe's help - some of his photographs were adduced. One Paul Fernandes of Chimbel came for several hearings. By and large, the comfortable among the Panjim Goemkar didn't care but that didn't stop him from offering useless, gratuitous advice. I say, go ahead with your Baina PIL. Warm regards, r
