By Aires Rodrigues.
The Manohar Parrikar government decided to withdraw criminal cases pending against ruling party politicians to have a conducive atmosphere in the State. This has been revealed in information obtained from the Home department under the Right to Information Act.
The file notings reveal that at a meeting held on 15th May in the office of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and attended by Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, Law Secretary Pramod Kamat and Director of Prosecution Shobha Dhumaskar a discussion was held on various criminal cases pending against politicians in various Courts.
The same day a note was moved and Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni in his noting stated that a circular may be issued through the Director of Prosecution that the policy of the government is not to pursue criminal cases against politicians provided the cases are not of very heinous crimes like murder, rape, looting robbery or such serious offences.
The noting was approved by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the same day while directing the Director of Prosecution to issue the circular directing the withdrawal of cases pending against politicians.
The Director of Prosecution Shobha Dhumaskar accordingly promptly issued a circular to all the Prosecutors and Assistant PublicProsecutors conveying the policy of the government to withdraw criminal cases against politicians provided they cases are not ofheinous nature such as murder, rape, looting, robbery or such seriousoffences. On receipt of the circular the Public Prosecutors and Assistant PublicProsecutors moved swiftly and withdrew the criminal cases pending invarious courts against various Ministers and MLAs including Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Mr. Rajendra Arlekar.
This high handed move of the government in withdrawing criminal casesagainst politicians is a blatant interference in the admistration of Justice. Nobody can be above the law. Such a discriminatory move to help only politicians escape from their alleged offences is impermissible in theeyes of Justice.
The decision taken by the government in the guise of having a conducive atmosphere in the State is ridiculous. One wonders why the government did not use the same yardstick and withdraw all criminal cases not pertaining to heinous crimes which are pending against the common citizens.
The extension in service and pay hike given to Director of Proscution Shobha Dhumaskar despite an F.I.R pending against her, was a planned move by the government to facilitate the withdrawal of cases against politicians.
