By Aires Rodrigues
Goa Governor Mr. B.V.Wanchoo has to be lauded for not giving his assent to those draconian and unjustified amendments to the Goa Lokayukta Act which were adamantly bull dozed through by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the last session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Governor has rightly invoked his constitutional discretion and sent the amendments back to the Legislative Assembly and has asserted that he is not a rubber stamp Governor. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should now also come clear on who really had proposed those draconian amendments now sent back by the Goa Governor. Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni’s legal acumen is also now in question as surely those amendments were vetted by him or may have had his tacit consent.
It is now hoped that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will bow down in all humility to the wishes of Goans and pass in the current session of the Legislative Assembly his promised amendments on the lines of the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act so that the Goa Lokayukta Act is empowered with the right powers and teeth to tackle the current rampant corruption and mal administration prevalent in the State. The Goa Government could seek the advice and assistance of former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hedge while finalizing these amendments. The fee of Rs 500 required to be paid by those filing a complaint before the Lokayukta should be scrapped as it would put off citizens from filing cases against corruption and mal administration.
The Goa State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioner should also be appointed immediately in a very transparent manner and in accordance with law. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should not dare repeat his earlier ploys while attempting to high-handedly appoint Pandurang Nadkarni and Pradeep Padwal as Information Commissioners.
The Chief Minister faltering and goofing on almost every issue is due to his high levels of arrogance and his uncontrollable tongue. Both these of his acute deficiencies are inter-related to the brain and Manohar Parrikar would have to deal with them on a top priority. I wish I could have been of help but Mr. Manohar Parrikar would have to seek assistance at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) at Bambolim. The sooner he does the better for Goa. Let us hope he gets well soon.