Controversial restaurant case | Portuguese Civil code cited in defence by owners
The Hindu
An activist-lawyer had filed a complaint, in which he alleged that the licence to run 'Silly Souls Café and Bar' was obtained "illegally" and that it was renewed this year in the name of a person who died in 2021.
A Portuguese era law, which transfers the property ownership rights of a man to his wife after his death, has been cited in defence by the owners of a restaurant in Assagao village in North Goa, which the Congress claimed was linked to Union Minister Smriti Irani's daughter.
An activist-lawyer had filed a complaint, in which he alleged that the licence to run the upmarket restaurant — 'Silly Souls Café and Bar' — was obtained "illegally" and that it was renewed this year in the name of a person who died in 2021.
The Congress had last week alleged that Ms. Irani's daughter was linked to the property, a charge rejected by the Minister.
During the first hearing in the case conducted by State Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad on July 29, the family members of Anthony DGama, in whose name the licence for the restaurant was issued, told the authorities that it is entirely their business and no other person is involved in it.
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Talking to reporters after the hearing, advocate Benny Nazareth, who represents the DGama family, said the Portuguese Civil Code mandates that when a spouse dies, his or her powers are transferred to the partner.