PANJIM: It has now been revealed that Goa’s Raj Bhavan has been declining to furnish any information under the Right to Information Act. Last month 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 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.
Stating that this explanation given by the Raj Bhavan to avoid the RTI Act was not acceptable, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today vowed to take immediate legal steps to ensure that the Goa Raj Bhavan immediately complies with the Right to Information Act
Adv. Rodrigues has stated that it was deplorable that the Governor as head of the State was himself scuttling an Act which was enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the administration.
Adv. Rodrigues has expressed surprise that the current Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu who is a retired bureaucrat and not a politician had allowed the Raj Bhavan to breach the constitutional obligation of complying with the Right to Information Act.
Stating that with the exception of Goa all other Raj Bhavans were complying with the Right to Information Act, Adv. Rodrigues has alleged that instead of strengthening the RTI, the Goa Governor had allowed it to be weakened.
Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the Governor’s petition before the High Court was pertaining to a particular information sought by Leader of the Opposition Mr. Manohar Parrikar and that it was no license or grounds for a blanket refusal to comply with the RTI Act.
The State Information Commission by an order dated 30th July 2008 had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish information sought by Mr. Manohar Parrikar on the reports sent by Governor to the Union Home Ministry on the political situation in Goa during the period from 24th July 2007 to 14th August 2007.
Within a week on 4th August 2008 the Raj Bhavan challenged the State Information Commission’s order before the High Court and on 5th August 2008 obtained an ex- parte stay order from having to furnish that information to Mr. Parrikar. Though the High Court had directed that the matter be expeditiously heard it has not come up for hearing for the last two years.
Incidentally the current Goa Governor Dr. S.S. Sidhu took over as Governor on 21st July 2008 and within a forthnight the Raj Bhavan took a decision not to furnish any information under the Right to Information Act.
Good going Dotor, the people are learning from you a lot about RTI Act. This is the only weapon of the poor man in Goa. It reveals a lot.
ReplyDeleteSardarji Barabaja..khalistan zindabad....supply him with prostitutes and he will reveal everythings.
ReplyDeleteYes right, when ever a sardar land on Goa shore the first things they inquire is where they can deep their small brother.Congress oldman Tiwari had proved the world what Governors tempt to do during their ideal time at their offical residence.
ReplyDelete