Team Herald

PANJIM: The State government on Friday clarified that it has declared the entire process of granting Goa Konkani Akademi literary awards as “null and void” due to “conflict of interest among some jury members” and not over the controversy surrounding any other issue (book of poems ‘Sudhir Sukta’). 

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the government has constituted a fresh committee under the chairmanship of Director of Higher Education Prasad Lolienkar to decide on the procedures and formalities to be adopted while giving these awards. The committee will also suggest on amalgamation of various awards given by different organisations like Goa Konkani Akademi, Kala Academy, etc. 

Parrikar decided to clarify the government stand in the ongoing controversy wherein 22 Goa Konkani Akademi literary awards, for the past two years – 2014-15 and 2015-16 – were declared null and void. 

“In this case we found that there is substantial conflict of interest and therefore the full process is declared null and void, we have not rejected any entries. There is difference between cancelling the award and declaring it null and avoid,” he said.  

The Chief Minister recalled how on different occasion he desisted from chairing the cabinet meeting due to conflict of interest. “Even in case of cabinet, four to five times, when conflict of interest came I desisted from staying present. One was about selection of my relative through Public Service Commission. I asked them to place it before the cabinet. Senior most minister presided over the meeting,” he explained.

“The government cancelled the proceedings because of conflict of interest and not because of particular book or award. Conflict of interest may not be for everyone but even one person can make the process defective,” Parrikar said, clarifying that the government has no role to play in the FIR registered against former MLA and writer Vishnu Wagh’s controversial book of poems ‘Sudhir Sukta’.  

“The FIR has been filed as per Supreme Court verdict and it has nothing to do with the government. Supreme Court has clearly said that if prima facie there is violation of law, then FIR be filed. Police may then investigate the violation,” the Chief Minister stated.

Parrikar said that the police did not consult the government before registering a FIR as they have to deal with their higher-ups. “Government never interferes in the functioning of Investigating Officer,” he said. 

Speaking about book of poems ‘Sudhir Sukta’, Parrikar said that he personally feels that everyone has the right of freedom of expression. 

The awards are classified under two sections – Konkani Bhasha Seva Puraskar and Sahitya Seva Puraskar. Eight awards are given in each of these categories, making it 16 awards per year. These are awards for poetry, novel, short story, drama, essay, travelogue, research writing, scientific writing, literary criticism, etc.