The Public Accounts Committee of the Goa Legislative Assembly should summon Goa’s controversial Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak to seek his explanation on the allegations of financial impropriety against him. The Public Accounts Committee should enquire about the wasteful and illegal payments made from the public exchequer towards bills raised by Advocate General, Mr. Subodh Kantak.
Amongst other allegations of double and excessive billing, Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak had appeared in the High Court on 27th January 2006 in the Saleli case bail applications of 102 accused where the Advocate General was paid 102 times Rs 8000 i.e. Rs. 8, 16,000/- (Rupees eight lakhs sixteen thousand only) for a single argument in that batch of 102 bail applications. Goa Government has paid controversial Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak a whopping sum of Rs 4,20,18, 750/- (Rupees four crores twenty lakhs eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty) for the period from June 2005 to July 2009. Such huge payments for a period of just four years was not acceptable. Mr. Subodh Kantak is India’s highest paid Advocate General and such huge payments to an Advocate General of India’s smallest state was unjustified when the Advocate Generals of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat on the average are never paid more that Rs 50, 000 a month. While the State Government is not in a position to take up developmental projects and spend money towards the common man, the tax payer’s money is apparently being misutilized to pamper the Advocate General. The Public Accounts Committee has to ensure that expenditure of public funds is well accounted for. In public interest, Advocate General Subodh Kantak should be immediately summoned to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to explain the allegations of financial impropriety against him. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372 * * * IS YOURS one of the stories of Goans on board the S.S. Dwarka, or at the Strait of Hormuz, Basra or Bahrain, Dubai, Swindon, Mombasa, Poona or Rangoon? Selma Carvalho's new book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* docks at many other ports. Get your copy from Broadways, Panjim [9822488564] Rs 295. P&p extra. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
