Affront to judiciary to have scam accused Mauvin receive CJI: Congress

Panaji: Congress on Saturday took strong exception to state govt deputing cabinet minister Mauvin Godinho to receive CJI Bhushan Gavai during his recent visit to Goa.In a letter addressed to the CJI, state Congress vice-president Sunil Kawthankar described the move as “brazenly insensitive and contemptuous of public morality”. He pointed out that Godinho has a pending appeal before the Supreme Court challenging a Bombay HC order directing him to face trial in an alleged power scam.“Govt has mocked the sanctity of the judicial process by placing an accused, whose case is sub-judice before the very institution your lordship presides over, as the face of the state’s reception,” he wrote.The Congress functionary warned that allowing individuals facing trial in corruption cases to represent the state before the judiciary sets a “dangerous precedent” and sends a chilling message that “political convenience trumps morality”.The letter urged the Supreme Court to consider issuing an advisory preventing govts from deputing persons with pending criminal cases for ceremonial or protocol duties involving the judiciary.