from Special Correspondent Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, Feb 16: Goa's Parliamentarian has demanded that Goa government should enact a legislation to regulate the issuance of resident certificates, which are currently regulated in the state by mere administrative instructions.
The issue of resident certificates is in focus after state authorities raised skepticism on such certificate issued to Sanjay Dutt's girlfriend Manyata. The certificate is mandatory to register a marriage in the state.
On February 7, Dutt and Manyata had submitted their declaration of marriage, pending final signature to Salcette Sub Registrar's office. The declaration had raised dust after the authorities raised questions over the residence certificate attached for the purpose and suspended talathi (village-level revenue officer) who had issued it.
Goa's Rajya Sabha member Shantaram Naik said that he has been constantly asking for such a legislation for quite sometime in order to protect the interest of original Goan population.
Naik said that the recent incident in which an actress obtained a Resident Certificate on grounds that she was residing for more than six months in a house in the town of Margao, in Goa , and subsequently, made a declaration before the sub-registrar, as per the Portuguese law , in force in Goa, for getting the marriage registered with a famous film actor, should be an eye opener to the state government ,when, in fact, the actress has never lived in the town, for that period.
"The portuguese law requires attested xerox copies of Birth Certificate, Ration Card and School Leaving Certificate or any other document as proof of residence," the MP said adding that the genuineness of the document produced by the actress needs to be examined.
Naik said that he has requested the Collector of South Goa to inquire as to how the actress was issued resident certificate.
Stating that he is not concerned about the registration of marriage per se, but residence certificate is an important document which, if treated lightly, can create social and economic problems depriving Goans of their valuable rights.