IFFI boots out Goa Law Commission from its office

Panaji, July 16 (IANS) The newly formed Goa Law Commission has been asked to vacate its premises by July 31 by the state government to make way for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The commission, which was set up amidst fanfare in January this year to review old laws and simplify legal processes in the state, has no fixed address.

Former union minister of state Ramakant Khalap is the chairman of the commission.

'We have been asked to vacate the premises by July 31. We have nowhere to go presently. We will have to make alternative arrangements soon,' Khalap told reporters.

After being virtually without an office for some time after its inception, the commission was later allotted office space at the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) premises. The ESG is the nodal agency for the IFFI and is the co-host of the festival.

ESG officials told IANS that the requisition was made after repeated requests made by central government agencies. 'They require our entire premise to ensure that the planning for the IFFI is done without any glitches,' an official said.

Goa is the permanent host for the IFFI, which is held in November every year.