The Right to Information Act should be the priority of the current Parrikar Government. They should act with utmost haste to appoint a qualified individual to the post of State Information Commissioner with qualifications as laid down by the Supreme Court. What has Parrikar got to fear if, as he has stated, his mission is to Rid Goa of Corruption? This will be one giant step towards ensuring Transparency and achieving his goal. It would also act as a deterrent to people who would be thinking to circumvent the law in order to achieve their goals. This will also bring out in the open past ambiguities perpetrated by officials of the previous administrations who can then be asked to be accountable for their acts. Prosecution of those found to be in non compliance will ensure that they pay their dues to society, while ensuring that their ill-gotten gains are forfeited to the state and wherever possible where it is seen that some injustice was done to another citizen which resulted in loss of property or goods, these anomalies are rectified. The proper implementation of this act will ensure that fairness is restored and that no one is taken advantage of due to not having the means or power to achieve what is rightfully theirs.
Manuel (Eddie) Tavares.
