PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today served a legal notice on Goa’s Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu for the refusal of Raj Bhavan to furnish information under the Right to Information Act. Adv. Rodrigues has given Governor Sidhu 48 hours to furnish the information sought by him or face legal proceedings.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues by an application dated 29th November had sought from Raj Bhavan under the Right to Information Act details of action taken on the complaints made by him to the Governor of Goa against Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General.
In a letter to Adv. Aires Rodrigues dated 30th November, Special Secretary to Governor, Dr. N.Radhakrishnan declined to furnish the information, stating that information under RTI Act could not be furnished as the Governor of Goa is not a Public Authority and that an affidavit to this effect has been filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa.
In his legal notice to the Goa Governor today Adv. Rodrigues has reiterated that the office of the Governor is a constitutional post within the definition of “Public authority” under section 2 (h) (a) of the Act and that Governors of all other States were complying with the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Rodrigues has in his notice drawn Dr Sidhu’s attention that as the Governor of the State, it was proper and essential to furnish the information sought as a sign of transparency and good governance.
Adv. Rodrigues has further told Dr. Sidhu that the Governor of a State is bound to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Right to Information Act and should have led by example himself by ensuring that information relating to the office of the Governor is furnished.
Adv. Rodrigues has in his notice further stated that the Governor is bound as a Public authority to furnish the information sought under the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that if a constitutional functionary himself contends that he is not a Public authority, and refuses to implement an Act of the Parliament it would lead to subversion of the rule of law.
Bravo Aires, all the governors of the annexed Goa are here not to serve Goa and Goans but to loot. Have you not heard that one or two governors even took away the carved furniture of the Portuguese era of Raj Niwas then.
ReplyDeleteThey get all the benefits at the tax payers expense and treat them with contempt. Let truth prevail.
Thank you Airesbab, show the way to the people who are not familiar with the act. To those who eat crumbs and put matters under the carpet. To those who are brave but yet are afraid. God bless you Airesbab.
ReplyDeleteAdv. Aires – Excellent work. Keep going and show the way to all Niz Goenkars how to fight for our rights, which so many have been deprived of, due to corrupt procedures that are being followed in Goa by all the corrupt politicians, police and government servants.
ReplyDeleteTo Ek Goenkar::: I totally agree with you ansd Aires Rodrigues.
ReplyDeleteIf Dr. SS Siddhu is not a PUBLIC figure in a PUBLIC OFFICE,then we must treat him as a PRIVATE individual.
He should give up his Public Post as The Governor, become a private citizen and return to his native place.
It is truly amazing how the RTI act and Laws in Goa are bent to suit people in power.
Why call him GOVERNOR OF GOA if he is not considered a public figure?.
He is theoritically a "HEAD OF STATE" with reduced powers.
What a mockery of the RTI
Dotor bab Aires, these political thieves representing the public never knew that there was such a manifestation called RTI until you have made them aware of. We, the electorate have the right to ensure that these glorified bastard politicians are made to run helter skelter if things do not fall into perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe need guys like you (Adv.Aires) to put some sense in their moronic heads.