RTI activist exposes Nadkarni’s bio-data

Herald Publications: Panjim: Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

RTI activist Aires Rodrigues has demanded that the entire bio-data of Pandurang Nadkarni, whose name has been recommended for appointment as State Information Commissioner to the Governor, be investigated, before appointing him to the post, since he has found many irregularities.

Rodrigues has alleged that Nadkarni had falsely inflated his CV, which has been exposed through information collected under RTI act.

“Nadkarni in his bio-data had stated that he was a member of the Local Managing committee of S S Dempo College of Commerce and Economics from 1996 to date and that he is also a Member of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Board”, Rodrigues noted.

“It was verified that Nadkarni is neither a member of the Local Managing Committee of SS Dempo College of Commerce nor a member of the Goa Board”, Rodrigues said demanding that `Nadkarni’s entire bio-data be examined by an independent authority to check the authenticity of its contents.’

Rodrigues said that the documents obtained under the RTI Act has also

revealed that the advertisement calling for applications for the post of Information Commissioner was issued on April 17, and Nadkarni submitted his application only on April, 30, the last day for submitting applications.

The documents also reveal that Nadkarni had resigned from his current job as Director of Manipal Academy of Health & Education before applying for the post of State Information Commissioner.

“Has the Chief Minister guaranteed the job of Information Commissioner to Pandurang Nadkarni as a trade off on the MoI issue?” Rodrigues questioned.

Nadkarni who is a prominent leader of Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) was the petitioner in the MoI petition before the High Court recently. 

Meanwhile, the file recommending Nadkarni’s name as State Information Commissioner is being sent to the Goa Raj Bhavan for Governor’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.