In a recent development, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has denied entertaining petitions filed by Pastor Domnic D'Souza and his wife, Joan Mascarenhas E D'Souza. The petitions challenged the show cause notices issued by the North Goa Collector for externment hearings. Both Pastor Domnic and Joan withdrew their petitions before the High Court, which, in turn, granted them the liberty to approach the court again if an externment order is passed against them.
Pastor Domnic D'Souza, who leads the Five Pillars Church in Sodiem-Siolim, and his wife, Joan Mascarenhas E D'Souza, have been embroiled in externment proceedings initiated by the Goa Police. The North Goa Collector had issued show cause notices to the couple regarding the externment proceedings.
The High Court's decision comes after the D'Souza couple appeared before the North Goa Collector on Friday in connection with the externment proceedings initiated by the Goa Police. In parallel, they had filed a petition before the High Court challenging the show cause notices and seeking to quash the externment proceedings.
However, with the High Court denying immediate relief, Pastor Domnic and Joan withdrew their petitions. The court granted them the liberty to approach again if an externment order is passed against them in the future.
The externment proceedings were initiated based on a report by North SP Nidhin Valsan, who recommended externing Pastor Domnic and his wife, Joan, from the State of Goa for their alleged involvement in offenses such as magic remedies and hurting religious sentiments. The police report also mentioned that the couple faces pending cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The arrest of Pastor Domnic D'Souza on January 1, 2024, by the Mapusa police added to the legal challenges faced by the couple, with allegations of involvement in conversion and black magic activities following a complaint filed by a resident of Tamil Nadu residing in Curti-Ponda.