Info Commission clashes with Transport Dept over red beacon cars.

Goanews: Panaji: Friday, 12 February 2016.

Goa’s information commission is on loggerheads with the state transport authorities on the issue of the Chief Information Commission using a red beacon car.

Based on a complaint filed by RTI activist-cum-lawyer Aires Rodrigues, the transport department today issued a show cause notice to the secretary of Information Commission on CIC using the red beacon car.

CIC Prashant Tendulkar, while talking to goanews.com, however went a step ahead stating that even the State Information Commissioners can use the red beacon cars.

While confirming that the notice has been issued based on the complaint filed by Aires, transport director Sunil Masurkar told goanews.com that the notice has been issued based on a notification issued by Goa government.

“Information commissioners do not figure in the list of dignitaries provided in the notification”, he said.

The Information Commission has to answer the notice within seven days.

The Supreme Court had recently issued an order, restraining several authorities from using the red beacon cars, based on which the central and state government have issued fresh lists of dignitaries who are entitled to use red beacon cars.

Justifying his action of using the red beacon, CIC Tendulkar states that all the information commissions in the country are governed by the central government and the central notification applies to them.

“The Right to Information Act was passed by the Parliament and the CIC and SICs are appointed by the Governor”, he states.

Quoting sections of the Motor Vehicle Act as well as the RTI act, Tendulkar says the CIC is considered equivalent to the Election Commission of India while the SICs are equivalent to the state Chief Secretary.

while the CS is entitled to use the red beacon car as per the Goa government notification, he says the central government authorises the Election Commissioner to use it.

“Does the transport department act against President of India, Prime Minister or central ministers for using red beacon cars while in Goa because they are not listed in the state government notification” argues the Goa CIC.