Goa Governor disposes of disqualification plea against ex-MLA

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has disposed of a disqualification petition against Caetano Silva, former MLA of Goa Vikas Party, who was accused of acquiring Portuguese citizenship.

The plea, which was filed in November 2013 by a local John Fernandes, was disposed of by the governor earlier this week on the ground that Silva is no more part of the new state Legislative Assembly.

Silva, who represented Benaulim constituency between 2012 and 2017, had lost last year's Goa assembly elections.

The disqualification petition was filed by Fernandes based on the order passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs dated November 20, 2013 declaring Silva a Portuguese national.

In his complaint, Fernandes had alleged that since Silva is a Portuguese citizen, he cannot contest elections in India and hence should be disqualified.

The governor had earlier sought the opinion of the Election Commission of India (ECi) on the issue.

In her order, Sinha said, "Acting on the opinion tendered by the ECI, as required under Article 192(2), I hereby order that after the dissolution of the previous Goa Legislative Assembly in 2017 and after the constitution of the new House in Goa, the reference has become infructuous as Caetano R Silva is no more a member of the Legislative Assembly of Goa."