Solace for prisoners
In a major push for prison reforms in Goa, the High Court of Bombay at Goa recently initiated a suo moto public interest litigation to examine whether the state is equipped to introduce an open jail system. The proceedings come in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court judgment directing all states and Union territories to establish and expand open correctional institutions. This development reflects a broader shift in India’s criminal justice philosophy which is from punishment toward rehabilitation and reintegration. Overcrowding, prolonged incarceration, and limited access to meaningful vocational training continue to plague many correctional facilities across the country. Prisoners serving long sentences remain confined in closed prisons for years, often with little opportunity to prepare for life beyond incarceration. Unlike traditional prisons, open jails impose minimal physical restrictions on inmates who have demonstrated good behaviour and pose a low security risk. For Goa, adopting such a model could significantly enhance its correctional framework. There is a need to develop infrastructure, and create employment opportunities within the system. Goa has the opportunity to transform its prisons into spaces of growth and rehabilitation.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Unfair move
Several Opposition leaders in Goa have been summoned by the Panaji police over FIRs linked to protests against Section 39A of the TCP Act. These cases stem from a demonstration outside TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane’s residence, where participants were accused of unlawful assembly and obstructing traffic. Such actions raise troubling questions about fairness and democratic rights. It increasingly appears that dissent is being discouraged through intimidation rather than addressed through dialogue. If protests by ruling party supporters frequently disrupt roads without similar consequences, why are Opposition voices treated differently? This selective approach suggests a deeper unease within the government. The surge of protests across the state reflects growing public concern over preserving Goa’s identity and resources. Instead of resorting to legal pressure, the authorities should listen to citizens’ voices.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
‘Powerless’ traffic cell
The Calangute traffic cell has been operating from the panchayat’s premises since 2011, sharing a common electricity metre which is registered with the panchayat. The electricity bill since 2023 had reached Rs 16 lakh which was paid by the panchayat. It was proposed that Rs 8 lakh would be borne by the traffic cell but as the payment did not materialise, the panchayat had switched off the supply. The traffic cell was rendered ‘powerless’ for five days and this led to disruptions in services (NT, April 29, 2026). When the traffic cell may have raked in lakhs of rupees in the last 15 years, by penalising traffic offenders in an area teeming with tourists, ironically it defaulted in paying its share of Rs 8 lakh towards the use of electricity. The priority of the government should be to soon find a place and move the traffic cell or pay the dues which would help the panchayat to carry out developmental works.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Initiative for environment
This is with reference to the news report ‘Sustainability-focused panchayat model for all 191 villages soon’ (NT, April 30, 2026). The Net Positive Panchayat Initiative seems quite interesting and impressive, focusing on renewable energy, sustainable development, waste management and green livelihoods. The important point to note is that of protecting the environment. There is everything that the earth provides for our livelihood and sustenance. But the moment we start exploiting it for our selfish interests, destroying greenery for ill-conceived projects we are in deep trouble. We are already facing disastrous consequences not just in Goa but in other cities like Mumbai as well. The success of the initiative will depend on the active involvement of sarpanches and panch members.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Woes of homeowners
It is plainly unfair for flat owners in Goa to pay stamp duty once for the flat, and again for the ground beneath it. Having paid the requisite stamp duty at purchase, one reasonably assumes the transaction is complete. Yet, while executing a conveyance deed in favour of a co-operative housing society, homeowners must pay an additional stamp duty of 3.5 per cent of the market value of their property to secure what was always implicit. The issue is well within the knowledge of bureaucrats and legislators, whose inaction often appears aligned with the builder lobby. Homeowners are steered toward maintenance societies, simpler and quicker, yet inherently incomplete, where the building is managed, but the land remains in the builder’s name, leaving ownership fundamentally partial. In Mumbai, the process is handled more logically: for flat buyers who have already paid stamp duty, conveyance to a housing society attracts only a nominal stamp duty (often Rs 100), as it is treated as completion of ownership rather than a new transaction.
Troy Ribeiro, Marcel
