Meet to discuss Portuguese civil code changes

PANAJI, May 13: Top jurists from India and Portugal will assemble here tomorrow to take part in a three-day seminar to discuss Goa's Portug...

PANAJI, May 13: Top jurists from India and Portugal will assemble here tomorrow to take part in a three-day seminar to discuss Goa’s Portuguese civil code (PCC) and study the changes needed in it as well as other Indian laws to suit the need of the changing times.

The Portuguese civil code has always attracted much attention of the Indian judiciary since, despite being an enactment of the dictatorial regime it is regarded as a much merited law and is even seen as Goa’s own version of the uniform code being considered for acceptance all over the country.

One important feature of the code is that it applies uniformly to all communities including Christians and Muslims.

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Under the code, marriages must be registered and men and women have equal right to parental property.

But like many other laws, the Portuguese civil code too is not without anomalies and needs to be reviewed to meet the requirements of the changing times. Some of the anomalies have been addressed in amendments to the civil code in Portugal but none of these amendments have been effected in Goa.

Changes needed in the Goa PCC to suit the requirement of the changing times will be considered at the three-day seminar, said India’s additional solicitor general M S Usgaonkar, who is also a trustee of the Vaikunthrao Dempo Centre of Indo-Portuguese Studies which is hosting the three-day meet jointly with the Bar Association of Portugal and Bar Association of Maharashtra and Goa.

Protests have greeted the holding of the conference. Both North and South Goa Advocates Association are sore that their participation has not been sought though the issues to be addressed were of vital importance to them.