More tweaks soon to name change law as oppn flags threat to Goan identity
Chief minister
Pramod Sawant
on Monday said in the assembly that govt will study all the cases of change of names by non-Goans to Goan names. He said that govt will carry out further amendments to the existing laws to prevent such changes of names when an individual has no links to Goa.
Opposition and ruling MLAs criticised the number of cases surfacing of persons from outside the state taking Goan names. They called it an assault on Goan identity and heritage.
The CM said amendments were already brought in to existing legislation to make such a change of name a cognisable offence with up to three years of imprisonment. He said the power to permit a change of name has been taken from the civil registrar and given to courts.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said that recently, an advertisement was published by Alisaheb Allegundi to change a name to Sujal Gaonkar. Borkar said that already there are cases of people taking Goan names and marrying locals, only for the Goan spouse to know of their true identity later. 'This will cause disruption in society. Goan names come from communities that have a distinct social and cultural role,' he said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said such persons may change their name and claim OBC reservation.
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'Our names are carriers of our identity. If powers have been given to the courts and this is happening, there must be something wrong being done by the courts,' said Sardesai.
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao said name changes are also reflecting a change in religion of the person. Sawant said some of the cases examined revealed that a Catholic woman from Goa married a Muslim man from outside the state and the name change was that of the child, who chose to take on the mother's religious and cultural identity after the parents' separation.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said that newspapers should be roped in so that advertisements for name change can be examined before being allowed to be published. Priol MLA Govind Gaude said that maternity hospitals should also be alerted about children being born to non-Goan parents being given Goan identity.
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