PANJIM: Information obtained by Adv Aires Rodrigues under the Right to Information Act has revealed that it was Goa Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu’s desire and decision that Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam should appear before the High Court in the petitions filed by Goa Raj Bhavan against the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues had sought from the Law Department file notings and correspondence leading to the appointment of Solicitor General of India to appear for the Goa Raj Bhavan before the High Court.
Interestingly as the Raj Bhavan is not complying with the RTI Act, Adv. Rodrigues sought information pertaining to the Raj Bhavan’s decision to appoint Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam from the Law department.
The file notings reveal that Secretary to the Goa Governor Mr. Rajeev Verma in a note to Law Secretary Pramod Kamat on 30th May 2011 stated that Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam may be requested to defend the RTI case before the High Court as Goa Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu was concerned that the case needed to be defended appropriately.
The notings also reveal that Governor Sidhu on 27th May 2011 had a meeting with Advocate General Subodh Kantak, Adv. Carlos Ferreira and Adv. Mahesh Sonak where it was decided that Solicitor General Mr. Gopal Subramaniam should appear before the Bombay High Court at Goa on behalf of Raj Bhavan.
The notings further reveal that Advocate General Subodh Kantak on 1st June 2011 gave his written consent to Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam appearing on behalf Raj Bhavan.
The Law Secretary Mr. Pramod Kamat after getting the approval of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on 13th June 2011 wrote to Union Ministry of Law and Justice on 5th July 2011 to issue necessary orders authorizing Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam to appear on behalf of the Goa Governor before the Panjim Bench of the Bombay High Court as a Special case.
The Law Secretary in his letter without specifying the amount says that the necessary fees towards Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam’s appearance will be borne by the Government of Goa. The letter however is silent on who would bear the travel, lodging and boarding expenses that would have been incurred by the Solicitor General.
Meanwhile the file notings show that the Law Department moved swiftly on 13th July and issued a corrigendum allowing the Solicitor General of Goa to appear on behalf of the Special Secretary to the Governor.
This follows Adv. Aires Rodrigues drawing the attention of the High Court that the Goa Government notification appointing Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam was to solely appear on behalf of the Governor of Goa and that the Governor was not a party before the High Court as the petition was filed by his Special Secretary.
Reacting to the information furnished to him under RTI, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that it was very clear that the Governor of Goa was not confident that Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak could defend the Raj Bhavan’s case appropriately.
Adv. Rodrigues has expressed the hope that at least now the Government should realize the need to ensure in public interest, India’s highest paid Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak is replaced by an honest, knowledgeable and competent Advocate General.
Whoe money will the Governor Pap'e Siddhu will spend? For what? Public cause?
ReplyDeleteThis is Goa, loot and out.
He has never won a case unless he 'fixes' it with either the judge or the opponent advocate. I warn every one. You simply cannot win against the Goverment. Subodh Kantak is a master fixer and a bad pleader. Your Advocate is easily brought over by Him in a you-scratch-my-back-I-scratch-yours game.
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