I have done my duty, more so as an officer of the Court by telephonically speaking to retired Bombay High Court Justice Ambadas Joshi who has been selected by the Goa Government to be the next Goa Lokayukta.
I have drawn Justice Joshi’s attention to those very retrograde amendments which were notified on 17th February this year which has totally diluted the Lokayukta Act rendering the Lokayukta absolutely toothless and totally powerless. Infact if was duty of the government to sincerely apprise Justice Joshi of the correct and factual position so that he is not embarrassed once he arrives in Goa seeing that he has accepted a farcical post without any role or powers. I have explained to the very courteous Justice Joshi that unless the powers of the Lokayukta are restored, he would practically act only as a mere record-keeper of the list of assets and liabilities filed annually by all the public functionaries in terms of Section 21 of the Goa Lokayukta Act. I have further explained to Justice Joshi that if the government lacks the intent and will to have a sturdy and truly empowered Lokayukta, the only option was to wind up the now sham Institution of the Goa Lokayukta and save the exchequer a whopping 1.8 crores which is the annual expenditure incurred in running that body which in its present form will serve no meaningful purpose whatsoever but only act as a white elephant being an unnecessary financial liability to the already overburdened taxpayers of Goa. I have also drawn Justice Joshi’s attention that in 2013 Karnataka’s former formidable Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde had suggested that some provisions be incorporated to strengthen the Goa Lokayukta Act but all those views were consigned to the bin, just as the amendments that were proposed by our now retired Lokayukta Justice P.K Misra. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sudarshen Reddy was on 8th March 2013 appointed as Goa’s first Lokayukta and assumed charge on 14th March. Within six months suddenly on 18th September 2013 Sudarshen Reddy without citing any reasons left Goa in a huff after tendering his resignation which was accepted by the Goa Governor on 17th October 2013. On 24th April 2016 the Retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice P.K.Misra was appointed as Goa’s second Lokayukta and he assumed charge on 28th of April 2016 while his term ended on 17th September last year. Last month retired Bombay High Court Justice U.V.Bakre initially gave his consent for the post but later withdrew it reportedly on account of those controversial amendments making the post of Goa Lokayukta redundant and powerless. 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
