The Right to Information is one law the politicians and the bureaucracy would like to see buried. This is perhaps the reason why the upkeep and basic amenities at the Goa State Information Commission has been neglected. For years it continues to operate from a overcrowded 78.29 sq meter shop at Shrama Shaki Bhavan in Panaji. The office is very crammed and running in despicable conditions. It is so congested that you would be lucky to leave the premises without being slapped molestation charges!
There isn’t even toilet facilities for the Staff and public. Even the Chief Information Commissioner who is a retired Bombay District Court Judge has to use the toilet at the Children’s court on the first floor. The government has also not filled the vacancy of an Information commissioner for almost two years which has resulted in a huge backlog of cases. As the Education department is now shifting to Porvorim, that premises could be used to house the State Information Commission. It could even accommodate the State as well as the North District Consumer Redressal Forums. The Government should seriously consider this unless some politician has already conceived a real estate venture at the Education department premises which is located at a prime location on 18th June Road. Will Chief Minister Digambar Kamat look into this or will it like almost every other issue remain shelved. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
