TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa Lokayukta has dismissed a case against two Mapusa Municipal Council officials after the petitioner failed to appear before the authority. The case was dismissed without going into its merits.
RTI activist Jawaharlal Tukaram Shetye in the petition filed before the ombudsman had alleged that then MMC Chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar and Chief Officer were indulging in favouritism while appointing lawyers to defend cases under RTI before competent authorities.
The petitioner had objected to the appointment of advocates by the Council to defend itself before the competent authorities, where petitions are filed after RTI information was disallowed by MMC.
The case which came up for hearing on July 17 was dismissed after the petitioner’s lawyer failed to appear for the preliminary hearing.
Lokayukta officials said that although the case is dismissed it can be restored by the petitioner within one month, provided he applies for the same.
“If petitioner applies back to restore the case, the notices would be issued to the respondents too and they would be heard before allowing the restoration,” official explained.
