It has now been revealed that Goa’s Raj Bhavan has been declining to furnish any information under the Right to Information Act.
I had by an application dated 29th November sought from Raj Bhavan under the Right to Information Act details of action taken on the complaints made by me to the Governor of Goa against Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. I had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of my complaints against the Advocate General. By a letter to me dated 30th November, Special Secretary to Governor, Dr. N.Radhakrishnan declined to furnish the information, stating that information under RTI could not be furnished as the Governor of Goa is not a Public Authority and that an affidavit to this effect has been filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa. This explanation given by the Raj Bhavan to avoid the RTI Act is not acceptable. I will take immediate legal steps to ensure that the Goa Raj Bhavan immediately complies with the Right to Information Act It is deplorable that the Governor of Goa as head of the State was himself scuttling an Act which was enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the administration. I am also surprised that the current Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu who is a retired bureaucrat and not a politician has allowed the Raj Bhavan to breach the constitutional obligation of complying with the Right to Information Act. With the exception of Goa all other Raj Bhavans are complying with the Right to Information Act. Instead of strengthening the RTI, the Goa Governor has allowed it to be weakened. The Governor’s petition before the High Court is pertaining to a particular information sought by Leader of the Opposition Mr. Manohar Parrikar and it is no license or grounds for a blanket refusal by the Governor to comply with the RTI Act. The State Information Commission by an order dated 30th July 2008 had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish information sought by Mr. Manohar Parrikar on the reports sent by Governor to the Union Home Ministry on the political situation in Goa during the period from 24th July 2007 to 14thAugust 2007. Within a week on 4th August 2008 the Raj Bhavan challenged the State Information Commission’s order before the High Court and on 5th August 2008 obtained an ex- parte stay order from having to furnish that information to Mr. Parrikar. Though the High Court had directed that the matter be expeditiously heard it has not come up for hearing for the last two years. Incidentally the current Goa Governor Dr. S.S. Sidhu took over as Governor on 21st July 2008 and within a forthnight the Raj Bhavan took a decision not to furnish any information under the Right to Information Act. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
