TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Activist Sudip Tahmankar has filed a complaint against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni and others with the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Vigilance Department for alleged illegal appointment of public prosecutors in the High Court.
The complaint also accused former Prosecution Director Shobha Dhumaskar for the alleged illegal appointment by abusing her position with clear intention, criminal conspiracy, Breach of Trust and cheating government functionaries.
Advocates Santosh Rivonkar, Dattaprasad Lawande and Mahesh Amonkar are three State representatives in the High Court. The complainant pointed out that these appointments were made when already two regular PPs are functioning in the court. Tahmankar also alleged that one of the advocates was related to Nadkarni and the others were either friends or worked under him.
The complainant has alleged that the appointments are illegal as they have no approval from the High Court. He also pointed out that the salaries, fixed as Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively are also in violation of the terms and conditions of the government recruitments, since the rules provide that they should be paid per hearing with a cap of Rs 2 lakh.
“The appointment has been made without consulting the High Court as required under Section 24 of the Criminal Procedure Code and in violation of the office memorandum dated February 27, 2011, that states that the fees to PP are to be paid as per the appearances for effective case and monthly cap of Rs 2 lakh,” the complainant stated.
The complainant has demanded filing of FIR under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 within 24 hours.
