PANJIM: Former State Assembly Speaker, an former judge, former IAS and Goa Public Service officers, advocates as well as journalists are amongst those 57 applicants who have applied for the posts of Goa Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and the State Information Commissioner (SIC).
The post of CIC had fallen vacant in February with retirement of Prashant Tendulkar, while SIC Juino De Souza had retired in July, this year. After much delay, the State government, in September, invited applications for the two posts.
Some of the applicants have applied for both the posts while some have restricted themselves to one as per the desired qualification.
As per the information, the applicants for CIC and SIC posts include names of former Speaker Vishwas Satarkar, former IAS officer Arun Desai, former Chief Engineer of Water Resources Department Sandip Nadkarni, current Ombudsman Sharad Marathe, former Principal Chief Kerala Income Tax Commissioner Saseekala Nair, former Judge Sudin Sangodcar, Adv Sushma Mandrekar, Prof Nagesh Colvalkar, Dr Andrew Menezes, Dhananjay Jog, Adv Rajesh Shivolkar, Adv Nilesh Shirodkar, Adv Celvi Tellis, Shabnam Khan, Adv Nilesh Amonker, Col. Samir Verma, Pankti Jog and Gujarat based Adv Deepesh Joshi.
Senior journalists Sanjay Dhavalikar and Balaji Prabhugaonker have also applied for both the posts.
Further, the incumbent president of Administrative Tribunal Rajesh Narvekar, former Sessions Judge Pradip Sawaikar, Nilesh Barve, Adv Menino Gomes and David de Souza are those who have applied for only CIC.
A total of 32 applications have been received for CIC.
On the other hand, 25 have applied for SIC. The single applicants are former Margao Chief Officer YB Tavde, Adv Ganesh Kubal, incumbent Deputy Director Education Dayanand Chawdikar, social activist Adv Rui Ferreira, former information officer John Aguiar, environmental activist Savio Correia, Sammer Desai, Vengurla based Rakesh Dabolkar, Goa Meat Complex Veterinary Doctor Dr Ajit Kosambe, Adv Vishnuprasad Salgaonkar and journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai.
Eminence in public life with knowledge and experience in the field of Law, Science and Technology, Social Service, Management, Mass Media, Administration and Governance are mandatory qualification for both the posts.
Sources informed that High Level Committee headed by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will shortlist the candidates. The committee also includes, Leader of Opposition and a Minister nominated by the Chief Minister.
