Times of India: Panaji: Thursday, July 12, 2018.
The Goa
Governor’s office has stated that the Right to Information Act cannot apply to
the Goa Governor. In a reply before the Goa State Information Commission
regarding the applicability of the right to information Act to the Goa Governor
office, the secretary to the Governor has stated that Goa Raj Bhavan is not a
legal entity and not a “public authority” in terms of the Right to Information
Act 2005.
Secretary to
the Governor in an affidavit filed before the commission on Wednesday stated
that the Goa Governor is the Constitutional and Formal Head of the State and
enjoys immunity under Article 361 of the Constitution of India and is not
answerable to any Court.
A social
activist approached the commission seeking orders to be passed directing Raj
Bhavan to appoint a public information officer and disclose public information
under section 4 (1) of the RTI act.
In his
complaint activist Aires Rodrigues stated that despite being a public
authority, a public information officer hadn’t been appointed at Raj Bhavan
while other Raj Bhavans across the country and even the Rashtrapathi Bhavan are
complying with the Right to Information Act.