By Aires Rodrigues
A First Information report is being filed against Mr. Pandurang Rauji Nadkarni for falsifying the biodata submitted for the post of State Information Commissioner (SIC). Mr. .P.R.Nadkarni had intentionally misrepresented his biodata while concealing vital information that would establish that he did not possess the high eminence required as per the RTI Act for the post of SIC.
Mr. P.R.Nadkarni in his bio data had falsely stated that he was a member on the Local Managing committee of S.S.Dempo College of Commerce and Economics from 1996 to date and that he also currently was a Member of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Board. Mr. Nadkarni has however intentionally not disclosed the number of attempts it took him to clear his SSC from Holy Cross Institute, Quepem where he had done his schooling.
Section 15 (6) of the Right to Information Act requires that the State Information Commissioner shall not be connected with any political party. Mr. P.R. Nadkarni had in his application not disclosed his close association with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party though it is required that the person appointed as SIC be intrinsically unbiased in all ways.
Mr. P.R.Nadkarni had also resigned from his current job as Director of Manipal Academy of Health & Education before applying for the post of State Information Commissioner, This plumb posting carrying a salary of over Rs1, 20, 00 a month is sought to be given to Mr. Pandurang Nadkarni by the Chief Minister as a trade off on the MOI issue Mr. Pandurang Nadkarni who is a prominent leader of Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) was the petitioner in the MOI petition before the Bombay High Court.
It is now abundantly clear that the recommendation of Mr. P.R. Nadkarni’s name for the post of Information Commissioner was politically motivated and based on nepotism rather than merit. As required by law, only a highly competent person with knowledge and experience of law should be appointed as the Information Commissioner. The State Information Commissioner being a quasi-judicial authority, it would be impossible for a person without knowledge and experience of law to function in the position.
The file recommending Mr. P.R.Nadkarni’s name for the post of State Information Commissioner has been sent by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to Goa Raj Bhavan for Governor V.B Wanchoo’s approval. The Governor is the appointing authority and administers the oath to the Information Commissioner. The Governor can accept or reject the name proposed by the Government for the post of State Information Commissioner. Objections have already been submitted to the Goa Governor in writing to the high handed move to appoint Mr. P.R. Nadkarni as the State Information Commissioner.
