COMPLAINT AGAINST GOA GOVERNOR: FINAL ARGUMENTS ON 25TH MARCH

PANJIM: The Goa State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Kenny will on Friday 25th March at 10.30 am hear the final arguments in the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against Goa Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu for not complying with the RTI Act.

The Information Commission has already declined to stay the proceedings against the Goa Governor while making it clear that no further adjournment would be granted.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Governor Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Raj Bhavan that the Governor of Goa is not a public authority and does not come within the purview of the RTI Act.

Adv. Rodrigues had sought from Goa 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.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues in his petition before the State Information Commission has stated that the office of the Governor is a constitutional post within the definition of “Public authority” under section 2 (h) (a) of the RTI Act.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that as the Governor is a public authority the Raj Bhavan was bound to furnish the information sought and that the refusal to furnish information was unreasonable, malafide and without reasonable cause.

Adv. Rodrigues has also sought that Raj Bhavan officials be penalized under Sec 20 of the RTI act for not complying with the provisions of the Act.