All public functionaries had to file a statement of their assets and liabilities before the Goa Lokayukta by July 31st. The Advocate General who is the First Law officer of the State instead of setting a precedent and being the first to reveal his assets before the Lokayukta has intentionally chosen to keep it all under wraps.The Advocate General could be no exception and cannot be excluded from the ambit of the Goa Lokayukta. A person, who seeks to preach gospels in public, cannot be permitted to behave differently when it comes to himself.
As per the definition of “public functionary” the Advocate General of Goa, clearly comes within the definition as he is a “person appointed to a civil or public service or post in connection with the affairs of the State of Goa” The conduct of the Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni of seeking to defy the laws of transparency is deplorable. He should not take refuge to obscurities in law, to hide his assets. Is it that the assets of Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni would be required mined to great depths to see what glitters beneath this veil of secrecy? Even Judges of the Supreme Court have voluntarilydisclosed their assets and even uploaded them on the website for all and sundry to see. Surely Atmaram Nadkarni should have nothing to hide, especially if he is working his way towards being elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court! By the way, this entire week Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni was away. The initial buzz was that he may have slipped off on a trip to his favourite hot stop the ‘Walking Street’ in Pattaya. To give the devil his due, he was truly unwell in bed and with a severe bout of flu, we are told. Towards the end of the week Manohar Parrikar was also indisposed. Is it a mere coincidence or contagion? This would then prove deadly for the State. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
