Gunaji K. Govekar, a police officer, was fired after a mob incident. He says his statements were twisted, leading to a legal fight against the Goa Police.
On April 4, 2000, while on duty at Thana, Cortalim, Govekar and other officers faced a mob attack. The mob, armed and aggressive, forced the officers to run away. Govekar reported injuries and later went to the hospital.
"Hit! Hit the policemen," shouted the mob as they charged towards the outpost.
Govekar first told the story to Police Inspector D.R. Govekar at Verna Police Station. He says the story was not accurate and included names he did not mention. On April 28, 2000, he was supposedly forced to write a statement that was dictated to him.
On May 20, 2000, Govekar gave a statement under a legal section before a judge, saying he could recognize the attackers by face but not by name. This was different from what he told the police earlier.
Govekar was accused of "cowardice" and "betrayal" for not naming the mob members. After an investigation, he was fired from his job on January 15, 2002. His appeals were turned down by higher authorities, including the top police official.
Govekar fought his firing in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, arguing that there were mistakes in the process and he was forced to do things. His lawyer, Mr. Parikshit Sawant, said the investigation was unfair.
The court, led by Justices Valmiki Menezes and Shreeram V. Shirsat, agreed with the firing. They found no mistakes in the investigation and focused on the limited role of the court in reviewing such cases. The court noted that Govekar had chances to defend himself and question the witnesses.
"The power of judicial review is not directed against the decision but is confined to the decision-making process," the judgment stated.
Govekar's case was dismissed, and his firing was upheld. The court's decision showed how tough it is to change disciplinary actions in a court review. This case highlights the difficulties faced in legal fights against decisions made by authorities.
No costs were awarded, ending a long and tough journey for Govekar.
