Govt advocate accused of misleading Excise department in Goa

Goa's Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni today said he may issue instructions to government lawyers asking them not to represent a case related to senior BJP functionary Anil Hoble accusing the opponent lawyers of bullying them.
When the Goa bench of Bombay High Court met for the day, social activist-cum-lawyer Aires Rodrigues said that government lawyer Dattaprasad Lawande had issued verbal instructions to Excise department not to suspend licence of a restaurant owned by BJP Goa Vice President Hoble.
Rodrigues said the court is hearing the petition regarding Hoble's restaurant which violates the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) law.
"While court is hearing the matter and has ordered to suspend the licence, the government advocate verbally instructed the Excise Commissioner not to suspend it," Rodrigues told the bench.

The bench comprising justices F M Reis and K L Wadhane was hearing the petition.
Rodrigues said since Hoble is a senior party functionary, the government lawyer was misleading the Excise Department noting that there is no order to suspend the licence.

The Advocate General while responding to the allegations said Rodrigues was leveling baseless political allegations.
"This is not Azad Maidan (famous for public meetings) to give such speeches. I will tell the government advocate not to issue any such instructions and give any verbal orders," Nadkarni said.
"The case is being heard and heavens are not going to fall (if excise licence is not suspended)," he commented.

Referring to the conduct of Rodrigues in the court, Nadkarni also cautioned that he would ask government lawyers not to represent the case if such unruly behavior continues.
The high court is hearing the petition filed by Rodrigues demanding that the structure should be razed down as it is constructed violating CRZ norms.