19 Feb 2017 | 03:29am IST
Nadkarni cannot appear for Goa
PANJIM: In a setback to the Goa government’s fight to stop the proposed diversion of Mhadei waters, by Karnataka, the Central Government has withdrawn the permission for Assistant Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni to appear for Goa at the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal. Adv Nadkarni is a former Advocate General of Goa.
PANJIM: In a setback to the Goa government’s fight to stop the proposed diversion of Mhadei waters, by Karnataka, the Central Government has withdrawn the permission for Assistant Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni to appear for Goa at the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal. Adv Nadkarni is a former Advocate General of Goa.
Sources said the letter withdrawing permission was issued on Saturday by the Union Law Ministry. According to sources a delegation of Karnataka political leaders had met the Prime Minister seeking withdrawal of the permission given to Nadkarni to represent Goa following which the withdrawal order was issued.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, when contacted, confirmed the development. “Yes it is true... but I will write to the PMO as this cannot be done as written permission was already granted to us earlier,” he said.
He said that the State will not compromise in the matter. “State’s interest is of utmost importance to me,” he said.
Asked for his reaction, Adv Nadkarni refused to comment on the issue, barring saying, “I am aware of this.”
Adv Nadkarni had successfully led the Goa team in the Mhadei tribunal so far. Even after his elevation as ASG, the State had asked for his services which were allowed by the Centre. His cutting edge arguments and points, in the interest of Goa, had found favour in many instances in the Tribunal.
