Goa ATS SP Suspended Over Alleged Registration of Birth and Marriage in Portugal

The Goa government has suspended Superintendent of Police (SP) Edwin Colaco, attached to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), following a vigilance complaint alleging that he registered his birth and marriage in Portugal. Sources confirmed that the suspension order was issued earlier this week, and a departmental inquiry is currently underway to examine the allegations.

The complaint, received by the Directorate of Vigilance, is said to be anonymous and claims that Colaco travelled to Portugal sometime between 2008 and 2010 for the purpose of registering his birth and marriage in that country. Details of the complaint are limited, as the matter is now under official investigation.

This development draws attention to a distinctive provision of Portuguese law, which allows individuals born in Goa before December 19, 1961—the date of Goa's liberation from Portuguese rule—and up to two subsequent generations to register their births in Portugal. Such registration can lead to the acquisition of Portuguese citizenship, and consequently, a Portuguese passport. Over the decades, many Goans have utilised this pathway to access employment, education, and travel opportunities across the European Union and the United Kingdom, due to the visa-free access afforded by the passport.

However, for public servants in India, the legal landscape is markedly different. Under Article 9 of the Constitution of India, read with the Citizenship Act, 1955, any person who voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country ceases to be an Indian citizen. Moreover, government service rules typically bar employees from holding or acquiring foreign citizenship. It is important to note that the mere act of registering a birth or marriage in a foreign registry does not, by itself, amount to the acquisition of citizenship. The ongoing departmental inquiry is expected to ascertain whether Mr. Colaco’s actions amounted to a violation of any service conduct rules or citizenship laws.

This is not the first instance where the issue of dual nationality has surfaced among Goan public officials. There have been past cases where elected representatives and government employees faced scrutiny over alleged Portuguese citizenship, highlighting the complex interplay between colonial-era connections and modern-day legal obligations.

The Goa government has not issued a detailed statement, apart from confirming the suspension as per procedure. Mr. Colaco has not publicly commented on the allegations, and the investigation is still in its early stages. The suspension, pending inquiry, is a routine administrative measure and does not imply guilt.

The outcome of the inquiry will be critical in clarifying the boundaries of permissible conduct for government servants in relation to foreign registries. For now, it serves as a reminder of the need for clear regulations on matters where personal history and professional responsibilities intersect.