DIGAMBAR INSULTED

FORMER Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat and the four-time MLA from Margao have been insulted by the BJP. We had expected that Digambarbab  would be made the campaign manager for south Goa BJP Lok Sabha seat candidate Pallavi Dempo. According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,  Digambar will only be given the responsibility of one phase  of the electoral roles. BJP has sought the votes of Muslims in Moti Dongor for Pallavi Dempo.

SMART CITY DUST

THE High Court team of judges who visited Smart City projects found dust on the buildings of St Inez. Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Valmiki Menezes have concluded that mud piles everywhere are causing the dust pollution in the air in Panaji. They have directed for proper sign boards to be put up to avoid more of the kind of accidents which have been happening in dark corners and with little warning.

MONEY LAUNDERING ACT

THE biggest weapon in the hands of the Narendra Modi government is the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. The AAP leaders ranging from Manish Sisodia to Arvind Kejriwal have been arrested under this public money laundering act. Money laundering refers to all black money as cash transactions. The charge against Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal is that they illegally accepted kickbacks for changes in the Delhi excise rules on Darru. Section 45 of the Public Money Laundering Act should be able to prove innocence to get bail.

It is against the rule of law that bail should be denied. Especially in the cases where ED is not able to prove that money changed hands. In the  case of Arvind Kejriwal there is no evidence of money claimed to have been received by him.  The bail granted to Sanjay Singh has now brought some cheer at least to the AAP although there’s little to celebrate yet for Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia are still in jail needlessly.

SC ON RAMDEV

THE Supreme Court has directed the government to take immediate action against Ramdev for misleading advertising of its Patanjali products. The SC has declined the apology given by Baba Ramdev. The SC has observed that central and Uttarakhand governments have been blind to the violations to Baba Ramdev. Needless to say Baba Ramdev is the most successful businessman among the gods.

IIT PLACEMENT DOWN

EVEN graduates of the Indian Institute of Technology cannot find jobs any longer. As many as 30% of the graduates of IIT have not secured placement even after a month of the results. Over 35% of B-tech and post-graduate students have yet to find jobs. This is primarily due to the slowdown of the IT industry.

LOVE BIRDS IN CHIRAO

THE thickly forested Chorao bird sanctuary has now started attracting love birds in large numbers. These are not birds with feathers but young couples who have started going to Chorao in large numbers to seek some privacy to be together. The lovebirds are a serious threat for the genuine feathered birds in the sanctuary. The Chorao sanctuary authority has now made it compulsory for students to carry their ID cards if they visit the sanctuary. Goa does not believe in arresting love birds. Goa only wants to ensure that our feathery friends are disturbed my human love birds.

COMBATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE

THE Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, in collaboration with the Goa Police and Goa Dental College & Hospital, launched a two-day training program on April 1 at GO Hall, Altinho, Panaji. This initiative aims to empower police sub-inspectors and constables with the vital knowledge and tools necessary for effectively addressing the critical issue of substance abuse among children and adolescents.

The training brought together nearly 200 police personnel of various ranks, including those newly inducted, and will provide a comprehensive curriculum that explores the definition and types of substance abuse, the identification of signs and symptoms, and the enforcement of legal statutes such as the COTPA 2003, NDPS Act 1985, JJ Act 2015, and PECA 2019.

Dignitaries present at the opening session included Jaspal Singh (IPS), Director General of Police, Peter F Borges, chairperson, Goa SCPCR,  Sucheta Dessai, Superintendent of Police Training, and Dr Ida de Noronha de Ataide, dean of Goa Dental College & Hospital.

Peter F Borges as chairperson highlighted the significant role of law enforcement in combating substance abuse among juveniles. “Our goal with this training is to enhance the capabilities of our police force in tackling the challenges of substance abuse, thereby ensuring the safety and welfare of our children. It is crucial for the community to come together in protecting our future generations from the dangers of substance abuse,” Borges emphasized.

During the program, Peter Borges also called for stringent enforcement of the Protection of Children from Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019 amidst growing concerns over the prevalence of vaping within the student community. This call to action underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the risks associated with electronic cigarettes, especially among students.

Director General of Police Jaspal Singh (IPS) underscored the importance of the training: “This program is a mission to protect our future generations from the menace of substance abuse. Goa Police is fully committed to this cause, and armed with the proper knowledge and skills, we are ready to make significant strides in protecting our youth.”

Dr Ida de Noronha de Ataide commended the collaborative effort to address substance abuse challenges: “At the camps conducted by the Goa Dental College and Hospital, there has been a noticeable prevalence of tobacco misuse and its harmful impact on the youth in the state. In response, we have collaborated with the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to introduce a pocket manual today for enforcing anti substance abuse laws. This manual is designed to empower our law enforcement agencies to tackle the issues of tobacco and vaping effectively. Our institution remains steadfast in supporting the fight against tobacco use.”

The program addressed a broad range of topics, including the societal and individual impacts of substance abuse, enforcement strategies for tobacco control, and the legal provisions under various acts such as the COTPA 2003, PECA 2019, and the NDPS Act. Esteemed experts like Dr Priyanka Sahastrabhojene and Dr Kavyashree K, Dr Kashyap Bandodkar, Dr Akshata Gadiyar, and Adv Caroline Colasso and  Adv Raju Poulekar shared their insights, focusing on practical approaches for combating substance abuse and supporting affected children.

Moreover, a pocket guide on substance abuse for law enforcement agencies was unveiled, offering essential information for officers addressing substance abuse among youth. This guide reflects the ongoing commitment to enhancing the response to substance abuse issues within the community.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in the collective effort to combat substance abuse among the youth in Goa, reaffirming the commitment of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Goa Police, and Goa Dental College and Hospital toward ensuring a healthier, safer environment for children and adolescents.

VMSCL STUDENTS EXCEL!

THREE talented students from VM Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar, Goa, namely Jinu Ponnachan (Fourth-year BALLB), Anushka Patil (Third-year BALLB), and Kalla Naga Chaitrali (Third-year BALLB), have secured the esteemed runners-up position in the esteemed Justice N Santosh Hegde National Moot Court Competition 2024.

Their outstanding performance in this competition, including online preliminary and final rounds at Alliance University, Bengaluru, highlights their exceptional legal skills. Out of 40 teams in the online rounds, they emerged as one of the top 16 teams for the offline rounds.

These students’ success resulted from their hard work and dedication over four months of preparation, and they were applauded for their research work and oratory skills. They extend their gratitude to their professors, Dr BS Patil, Dr Sandhya Ram, Prof Dr MRK Prasad, and Dr Ranjana Ferrao, for their guidance. They also thank the moot court society of VM Salgaocar College of Law and their directors Dr K S Rao and Priyanka Shet, for the opportunity to develop their advocacy skills.

“Nothing better than being told that you would make a great lawyer!” The team quoted the remarks made by the judges at the competition.
This achievement showcases Jinu Ponnachan, Anushka Patil and Kalla Naga Chaitrali’s talent and reflects VM Salgaocar College of Law’s commitment to nurturing legal excellence.