SC notice to ex-CM on `false affidavits'

SC notice to ex-CM on `false affidavits'
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MAR 13: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to former Goa Chief Minister Wilfred D'Souza asking him to show cause why he be not punished for contempt of court for filing false affidavits in a case of denial of seats to All India Quota candidates in Goa Medical College.

"Notice shall go to Dr M N Pal, principal of Goa Medical College, and Dr Wifred D'Souza to show cause as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court for filing false affidavits in this court," a three-judge vench headed by Chief Justice A S Anand said.

The Bench passed this order after accepting a report of Registrar General of Supreme Court L C Bhadoo, who was appointed as one-man commission by the court to inquire into the issue of allegations of filing false affidavits by Pal and D'Souza.

The Bench comprising Justice Anand, Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice R C Lahoti said, "from a perusal of the report we notice that findings have been recorded by L C Bhadoo, Registrar General, to the effect that Pal and D'Souza were responsible for filing false affidavits in this court."

"With a view to eradicate the evil of perjury, it is therefore appropriate that we call upon both M N Pal and Wilfred D'Souza to show cause why proceedings under Section 193 IPC be not initiated against them," it said.

Section 193 of the IPC provides, "Whoever intentionally gives false evidence at any stage of a judicial proceeding, or fabricates false evidence for the purpose of being used at any stage of a judicial proceedins, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine".

The commission headed by Bhadoo also found that the former Chief Minister was "responsible for not allowing admission to the petitioners in Goa Medical College".

The Bench said, "From a persual of the report, prima facie, it appears to us that Pal and D'Souza have filed false affidavits in this court to be used in judicial proceedings."

The court gave three weeks time to the former Chief Minister to show cause to file his response to the notice. It gave six week's time to the counsel for Pal to file objections if any to the show cause notice.

It was alleged by petitioners including Amit Singh Rawal and others that the All India Quota candidates were made target by the politicians who whipped up "locals only" line among the public.

This had led to an undertaking being sought by the authorities from the students that their safety and security in the college and hostel premises would be their own and that the authorities would not be responsible for it.