PANJIM: Chie Minister Dr Pramod Sawant headed Selection Committee, to shortlist the State’s new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and the State Information Commissioner (SIC), held its first meeting on Monday, during which scrutiny of the applications was conducted.
Former State Assembly Speaker, a former judge, former IAS and Goa Public Service officers, advocates as well as journalists are amongst those 54 applicants who have applied for the two coveted posts.
The post of CIC had fallen vacant in February, last year with retirement of Prashant Tendulkar, while SIC Juino De Souza had retired in July, 2020. It’s last SIC Partima Vernekar, demitted office, last week.
After much delay, the State government, in September, invited applications for the two posts.
Speaking to the media persons, Director Information Sudhir Kerkar said that the three-member Selection Committee under the Chief Minister met on Monday. “The members went through the applications received,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, are other two members of the committee.
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.
Of the total 54 applications, there are some applicants, who have applied for both the posts while some have restricted themselves to one as per the desired qualification.
As per the information, some of the applicants, who have applied 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, etc.
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.
The single applicants for SIC includes 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, journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai, among others.
