Advocate General of Goa Atmaram Nadkarni is accused of high-handedly coercing government officers to attend the two day training programme currently being held at Panaji by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
This high handed move of the Advocate General, who is the coordinator of the programme, is solely aimed to artificially create an audience and to ensure no empty chairs. All Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars were directed to compulsorily attend the two day program. Similar directions were issued to all Public Prosecutors, Assistant Public Prosecutors, Government Advocates and Additional Government Advocates across Goa to attend. The Law department issued a circular on 5th July to this effect on the directions of the Advocate General. The two day programme not being a government function the government officers could not have been compelled to attend the same. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also directed that this circular be strictly complied with though the function does not relate to any matter of the State. When the State of Goa is in no way connected with the function, which is being hosted by the Bar Council, there was no justification to tax the officials and make it mandatory for them to attend. The Advocate General could have got a very fruitful audience if he had reached out to the fresh law graduates or even the final year law students of the two law colleges who would have immensely benefited by attending the programme. The programme organized is for Advocates who have practice of up to 7 years. Why have Public Prosecutors, Assistant Public Prosecutors, Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars who most of them have 10 to 20 years legal experience been forcibly dragged to attend the function with warning of dire consequences, in the event of default in attendance. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should have himself attended the two day programme as he would have learnt the basics of law, which could have helped him steer Goa out of its current state of total mismanagement and chaos. The programme will also benefit most of the Additional Government Advocates working under Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni who shockingly do not even have five years experience if not less. Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni is exceeding his brief by interfering in the day to day administration of the State. The Advocate General should restrict his role strictly in terms of Article 165 (2) of the Constitution of India. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
