WHAT GOA PAID THE ADVOCATES AND CITIZEN'S RIGHTS RTI information tells us that the State engaged a total of 42 advocates in the Mahadei river battle against Karnataka.The advocates fees alone were a whopping Rs 7,84,29,000/- crores, plus travelling expenses Rs 1,29,92,479/- crore, accomodation chargesRs 14, 70,522/-; total around Rs 9 crores! Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni charged Rs 33 lakh for every hearing and Rs75,000'- for every conference and he represented Goa in 95 hearings and attended 24 conferences. With the BJP quickly bulldozing the RTI Act crucial amendments through the LS and Rs, reducing the salary and 5 year term of the CIC as convenient to the executive (no clarity or clearly specified), the citizen is unlikely to get right to such information in future. And with the Law Minister saying that the government is not a post office to certify the appointment of judges to the High and Supreme Courts, absolute power with the government with checks and balsnces removed/diluted with no tangible opposition can be very perilous for democracy! The RTI Act, with the CIC on par with the CEC was working very well in public interest and the reasons for change as given by the government and their spokespersons, are debunked by ex CIC, senior lawyers and even partners of the BJP! This together with the amendment to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act where any individual can be declared a terrorist misuse will put human rights in jeopardy. The right to vote and information are the citizen's rights as per the Constitution and the CIC has to be on par with the CEC. Also the spurious argument that the CIC decisions can be challenged in court as excuse is not maintainable as even the President , CM etc can be challenged in court! The decisions of the Parliament can be struck down if unconstitutional?
