TEAM HERALD
MERCES: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he respects the right of citizens to go to court to redress their grievances, but maintained that when an individual files 30-40 cases, it is a thing of apprehension.
“I have no problem if an individual approaches court with grievances, but filing 30-40 cases is something very queer,” stated Parrikar at a function to lay the foundation stone for four-laning of the Ribandar bypass road.
Further, hitting out at government servants filing cases in court, Parrikar questioned when do these individuals get time for work.
“There is no problem if anybody wants to do social work, but doing so at the cost of public money is unacceptable,” he added.
Parrikar also hit out at RTI activists who blame the government when information is not provided to them by some officers. “The RTI Act clearly states that one can approach a higher authority if he is denied information,” he said and added that there’s no point in criticizing the government. “I, myself, have fought many RTI cases and even had to approach the SC,” he added. “Rules are there and these have to be obeyed,” he opined.
“If the process is cumbersome, rules can definitely be changed as I did in the case of JMFC directing police to file FIR in certain cases even without consulting the police,” he said. “Now, JMFC has been directed to hear the police before directing them to file FIR,” he added.
Parrikar also hit out at certain organizations who want the government to be transparent but themselves shun transparency.
