Team Herald
PANJIM: MLA Nilesh Cabal will move a notice of breach of privilege against social media site Facebook for allowing papers of the Goa Assembly to be leaked on its pages before they were tabled on the floor of the House.
The MLA spoke to the media after govt employee-cum-social activist Kashinath Shetye uploaded the queries asked by Cabral to the Electricity Dept and its answers on his Facebook page. Cabral has moved a notice of breach of privilege against Shetye, even as Speaker Pramod Sawant has asked Chief Secy Dharmendra Sharma to initiate inquiry.
“The questions are not tabled in the House and you (Shetye) have posted on the Facebook. I have moved notice of breach of privilege against him and I am filing a complaint against Facebook for the same tomorrow (Tuesday). How could they allow such things to happen?” the MLA said.
With the Assembly papers about Shetye’s professional commitment and his activism already public, Cabral said he sought to know from Shetye’s parent department whether he has been following proper protocol while moving courts/authorities over several issues. Shetye has been posted at Xeldem office, which falls in Curchorem represented by Cabral.
“He is busy filing RTIs and drawing salary. I have right to know what are his duties, what he has been doing for years, whether he has been taking leave to go to courts like NGT (in Delhi and Pune) and how can he address himself before NGT. As an MLA, I am duty bound to ask these questions.”
I am not asking his personal life,” the MLA said questioning why the activist couldn’t wait for the reply and discussion on the questions in the House.
“Activism is welcome but one cannot draw salary for not doing any work. If he wants, he can resign, get elected and work for the people. He will understand what it is. If I find he is doing double time and taking salaries without obtaining leave and necessary permission from the government, then I will decide how to approach for action against him,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Speaker already ordered an inquiry by CS Sharma stating, “We have already filed a complaint against Shetye and unknown official from the government department with the CS when we noticed that it was already uploaded on his Facebook page.”
As per procedure, questions sent by MLAs move to the Office of the Speaker from where it goes to the concerned department for a reply. The reply is then sent back to Speaker’s office and thereafter to the MLA.
“In this case, the question and its answer were uploaded on Shetye’s Facebook account even before it was sent to the MLA. So there must a leakage either from the concerned government department or from my office. The inquiry will reveal the details,” Sawant said. Asked how serious the Speaker’s office is about the leakage, he said, “In few days you will understand the seriousness.”
Crime Branch has already registered an FIR against Shetye and investigation has begun.
