Family Raj seems to have descended down the corridors of the High Court in Goa. Strongly deplorable is the high-handed appointment of Goa Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni’s close relative Dattaprasad Lawande as the Assistant Solicitor General before the High Court.
Will seek the intervention of the Prime Minister as this appointment is blatantly contrary to Narendra Modi’s own mantra that family interests should not be promoted while making appointments. All appointments have to be strictly on merit with the best and brightest selected. Burdening the State exchequer by such questionable appointments based on nepotism cannot be allowed. There is no dispute that Dattaprasad Lawande is a gentlemen and a very smooth talker which at the most would entitle him to be the official liaison officer of the Advocate General but by no stretch of imagination the Assistant Solicitor General of India. By appointing his own relative who is also his Junior to the coveted post, Atmaram Nadkarni will now be in full control to maneuver and manipulate all Central government litigation at the High Court. If Dattaprasad Lawande feels he is qualified for the post he should make public as to in how many matters he has independently argued before the High Court. Could we also have that list of all those constitutional matters he claims he has argued? That he has immense mastery in the skill of seeking adjournments is undisputed. In March 2012 Atmaram Nadkarni besides appointing Dattaprasad Lawande as Government advocate in the High Court had also gifted his relative the post as Additional Public Prosecutor with a salary of Rs one lakh a month though he lacked the required experience in criminal law. Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni in promoting his relative’s interest is enabling him to milk the exchequer three fold as Government Advocate, Additional Public Prosecutor and now as Additional Solicitor General. One wonders whether Dattaprasad Lawande would be able to advise the Union of India independently, without there being any conflict and also espouse the Union of India's stand before various Courts, with such a triple role. That he lacks the legal acumen to occupy that high post as Assistant Solicitor Genral is another issue. Several much more competent and capable advocates waiting in the wings for that appointment have realized the grim reality that the sole criteria for selection was only kith and kin and pure manipulation. Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni ought to hang his head in shame. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires
