The very first decision of the Goa cabinet today to appoint a very immature Dattaprasad Lawande as the Advocate General smacks of utter nepotism and contrary to the laid down law. Dattaprasad Lawande has been appointed only because he is a very close relative of Manohar Parrikar’s side-kick the notorious Atmaram Nadkarni. And that too, when the BJP led Government already had their own man – a Senior Counsel Saresh Lotlikar as AG, now to appoint a junior counsel as AG – would this not be clear to the naked eye as to what runs behind the curtains? The Government has also lost sight that the law requires that the Advocate General should be a person who qualifies to be a High Court Judge.
The poor knowledged Dattaprasad Lawande’s first appointment as Additional Government Advocate was the beginning for the looting followed by his appointment as Public Prosecutor and then the Assistant Solicitor General of India – all at the behest of Atmaram Nadkarni and was being paid handsomely. The Cabinet today should have asked for a list of the cases handled and argued by Dattaprasad Lawande which have contributed to laying down of any legal precedents which surely would not be available and it would be seen that after entering appearances, Dattaprasad Lawande made disappearing acts never to turn up at the final hearings of heavy matters. The Supreme Court in a recent judgment (State of Punjab and Ors. vs. Brijeshwar Singh Chahal and Ors) while holding that power in appointing Government advocates must be exercised only to promote public interest has held that the power cannot be exercised arbitrarily, whimsically or in an un-canalised manner for any such exercise will fall foul of Article14 of the Constitution of India and resultantly Rule of law to which the country is committed. The Supreme Court has held that merit should be the sole criteria while Government appoints its law officers. By the way how did Vijai Sardesai and his gang who had vowed to be Watch dogs of this government allow the cabinet to approve such a blatantly nepotic and malafide decision? Is Atmaram Nadkarni wanting to remote control the AG, as he found Saresh Lotlikar tough to handle? Is this avenue as Advocate General being created to now push for the elevation of Dattaprasad Lawande as High Court Judge? This is an utter disgrace to the August post of the Advocate General which is being brought to ridicule for selfish interests. May the Judiciary not succumb to saffron pressures. Temples of Justice are last bastion for the common man seeking Justice. 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 www.airesrodrigues.com
