The law requires that every officer at all times be non-partisan and always only uphold the rule of law. Officers are duty bound to strictly enforce the law without favor or fear. But this is just not happening in Goa where we are seeing political muscles being flexed to target officers who refuse to act as caged parrots of the politicians in power.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 29th ordered the demolitions of those illegal structures built by Goa BJP Vice President Anil Hoble while destroying mangroves and doing land filling along the Ribandar – Panaji causeway. After being generous enough by giving Anil Hoble 19 long days to get any relief from a higher Court, the Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza in keeping with that NGT order the on 19th June suspended the licenses that were issued to Anil Hoble to run a bar and a retail liquor outlet in those structures now declared illegal. The politically very influential Anil Hoble swiftly moved Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to seek as revenge the transfer of Menino D’Souza, who only acted in accordance with law. Sources reveal that it is planned to effect the transfer citing that Menino D’Souza has already been in that post for three years. But why so suddenly? And what about other heads of departments some of whom are glued to the same chair for almost a decade. Besides Menino D’Souza, the other officer reportedly in the line to be shunted is the Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes. The government is keen to have a pliable officer in that post so that life becomes easy for the convicted and now jailed Mickky Pacheco besides facilitating his release on parole. The BJP had promised Good Governance but it is ‘Acche din’ for the law breakers. Goa is already in the midst of a Jungle Raj. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires