MARGAO: South Goa Advocates Association has convened an emergency extra-ordinary general body meeting to discuss the proposal for extension of court timings and starting of evening courts in the state.

Other important issues listed in the agenda are the delay in the shifting of the Administrative Tribunal to South Goa and setting up of the Children’s Court in South Goa.

When contacted by ‘The Navhind Times’, Mr Pritam Morais, secretary of the South Goa Advocates Association, confirmed that he has issued a notice for the extra-ordinary general body meeting and added that the meeting is fixed on September 15

Mr Morais further said that many advocates have expressed dissatisfaction over the reported move to extend the court timings and start evening courts.

He said that advocates are not work machines and they also have commitments towards their families and social life, adding advocates cannot be made to work from morning till night and as such the concept of evening courts requires an in-depth study and deliberation.

"The advocates and litigants from South Goa have also been for a long time demanding that the Administrative Tribunal should be shifted to South Goa so that litigants from South Goa do not have to travel to Panaji for their court matters. A separate tribunal has already been constituted to hear cases from South Goa but this tribunal continues to operate from Panaji. South Goa Advocates Association has decided to take up this issue at its extra-ordinary general body meeting," he observed.

It is learnt from reliable sources that the District and Sessions Court, South Goa, has also fixed a meeting on September 16 with the office bearers of various advocates associations from South Goa to discuss the modalities for expeditious disposal of cases pending before the courts for more than 5 years, 10 years and 20 years. The meeting shall also discuss the functioning of courts for longer hours i.e beyond the court hours and the recommendation of the Adhoc Committee on Law to set up continuous daily board of cases.