Times of India: Panaji: Friday, July 27, 2018.
Social
activist Aires Rodrigues on Thursday took objection to the “veiled threat” to
state information commissioners in an affidavit filed before the Goa State
Information Commission.
When the
matter regarding the applicability of the RTI Act 2005 to the Goa Raj Bhavan
came up for arguments, Rodrigues questioned the affidavit’s relevance in reply
to his complaint.
The
governor’s secretary, in his reply filed earlier this month, had stated that
the governor was the appointing authority for state information commissioners
and was also vested with the power to recommend their removal.
“What is he
trying to convey through this statement?” Rodrigues said before state chief
information commissioner, Prashant Tendolkar. The advocate appearing for the
Raj Bhavan sought more time to argue the matter.
When
Tendolkar instructed Rodrigues to continue with his arguments, the latter said
the RTI Act was being complied with by all Raj Bhavans and the Rashtrapati
Bhavan, too. He said the purpose of the act was to ensure accountability and
transparency in public life, and added that the state’s Raj Bhavan should lead
by example.
Rodrigues is
seeking orders directing the Goa Raj Bhavan to appoint a public information
officer and disclose public information under Section 4(1) of the act.
The secretary
to the governor, in his reply, had stated that the right to knowledge, which is
recognised as part of freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution,
was not an absolute right.
.JPG)
.JPG)
