Panaji: A local court has dismissed an application filed by RG chief Manoj Parab and six others seeking to challenge the order of Sep 4, 2024, which directed framing of charges against them in the agitation against the demarcation of property of the comunidade of Mapusa during the Covid pandemic.Parab told the court that the delay of 512 days from Sep 2024 occurred as they were actively involved in political and public service activities.Public prosecutor Coleman Rodrigues argued that the delay of 512 days in filing their revision application on the grounds of having a busy schedule in political and public service activities is totally perverse. He said they failed to show that the long delay was not deliberate and intentional.The court held that merely stating that they were involved in political and public service activities, including discharge of various official and party-related obligations is not a ground explaining the delay. “Delay is not of just a month or so but is of more than one and a half years, i.e. to the tune of 512 days, and it is an inordinate delay,” stated Artikumari Naik, the ad-hoc district judge 1, fast track court-1, Merces.The court in 2024 discharged them for a negligent act that was likely to spread dangerous, life-threatening diseases, but directed charges be framed against all of them for unlawful assembly.
