Goemkarponn Desk
PORVORIM: The applications filed by two MLAs, Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat, to cross-examine petitioner Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar orally in the disqualification matter were dismissed by Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday.
On January 10, 2024, each respondent submitted two distinct applications requesting authorization to cross-examine Patkar and present testimony. The two had declared their intention to present the petitioner with some of the remarks made on July 10, 2022, as well as media quotes from Dinesh Gundu Rao, the AICC observer at the time.
Adv Abhijit Gosavi, Patkar’s attorney, vehemently objected to both applications, arguing that they were submitted to postpone the disqualification suit brought against the two rebel Congress MLAs.
He made a declaration that the case would be resolved quickly before the Bombay High Court in Goa, in response to his demand that it be resolved quickly. Adv Gosavi drew attention to the fact that these were summary proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, necessitating a timely completion.
Since the petitioner had not presented any oral evidence, the Speaker prohibited both leading evidence and cross-examining Patkar in his ruling. Second, the Speaker declared that the proceedings would be extended even more if oral testimony was allowed.
The Speaker said that it was not practical to permit such applications because oral evidence could be cross-examined for a considerable amount of time. The Speaker denied both applications, stating that the case would be determined by the pleadings and the documentary.
In September 2022, Patkar filed a disqualification petition against Margao Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, the then-leader of the opposition, for their voluntary resignation from the Congress Party.
