Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Thursday has directed that a show cause notice be issued to Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma as to why his utter disregard to the lawful orders passed by the Commission should not be reported to his cadre controlling authority, the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The GHRC directions came after the Chief Secretary, despite repeated directions, failed to conduct a thorough independent investigation and to fix responsibility on the defaulting officials on a complaint filed by Adv Aires Rodrigues over the alleged Rs 51 lakh food scam at last year’s BRICS Summit held in Goa. GHRC has adjourned the matter to July 28 for the Chief Secretary’s detailed report.
Pointing out that despite giving several opportunities the Chief Secretary had not even shown courtesy to appear before the Commission, GHRC has regretted that the Chief Secretary was not at all diligent and had not shown seriousness in the matter as was otherwise expected from the head of the administration.
Rodrigues in his complaint to the GHRC last year had submitted that the contract for Rs 51,60,000 was given to Amonkar Classic Caterers for supply of food to police personnel posted on duty for the BRICS summit but the contract was sub-let to a road side contractor who prepared the food in an open place owned by the Police Department next to the Verna Church Cemetery.
