The Bombay High Court at Goa will on Wednesday 22nd December at 10.30 am pronounce the verdict on the petitions seeking quashing of the proceedings in the infamous 2008 Panaji Police Station attack case. Justice Manish Pitale on 29th November after hearing extensive arguments had reserved his order.
Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate and Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate are the prime accused in the case which has been pending in the High Court for the last seven years.
In a letter petition to the Administrative Judge of the High Court on 9th November it was pointed out by Adv. Aires Rodrigues that the Supreme Court being concerned about the criminalization of politics had directed that the criminal cases against politicians should be fast tracked but that it had not happened in Goa at least in the Panaji Police Station attack case in which Babush Monserrate his wife Jennifer and others stand charge sheeted by the CBI for having on 19th February 2008 attacked and damaged the Panaji Police Station.
Adv. Rodrigues also stated that the very questionable stay of the criminal trial granted by the High Court on 4th December 2014 that has continued for seven long years was contrary to a Supreme Court order that any stay granted by the High Court expires in six months and that unless extension is granted the trial must go ahead.
Seeking immediate intervention of the Court to preserve the sanctity and solemnity of Temples of Justice and to ensure that the mandate of law is complied with, Adv. Rodrigues urged that his letter petition be treated as a Suo-Motu Public Interest Litigation to ensure that the orders of the Supreme Court are strictly enforced in letter and spirit.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues also sent a copy of his letter petition also to the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
The Additional Sessions Judge Mapusa Sherin Paul had issued notices to Babush Monserrate, Jennifer Monserrate and the other 35 accused to remain present in Court on 6th December but deferred the trial till the High Court verdict.
