VITHALDAS HEGDE
vhegde3@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The near finalisation of Atmaram Barve as new State Information Commissioner (SIC) has kicked up a storm with activist Swapnesh Sherlekar making a strong case that Barve, who is the Chief Minister’s OSD, cannot hold the post.
According to Sherlekar, as per the Right To Information (RTI) rules, members of any political party cannot be appointed to the position. He said that BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade had clearly stated that Barve was a grassroot worker and congratulated him for being elevated to the position.
Sherlekar said that though the government was yet to issue an order appointing the new State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and SIC, at least Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, one of the members of the selection committee, should have red flagged Barve’s appointment.
Sherlekar has argued that Barve was currently OSD to CM and was connected with the political party. This is not acceptable and is highly condemnable, he said.
Political commentator Trajano D’Mello said, “The reported decision to appoint Atmaram Barve as the State Information Commissioner is another example of saffronising the office of State Information Commission. How can a 40-year-old have vast experience which is a criteria for selecting a SIC. The whole selection system with the Chief Minister chairing and selecting his own staff is illegal and highly condemnable.”
Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares, one of Goa’s seniormost RTI exponents, said, “The appointment of Barve is bad. It is not permissible under law. It is contrary to the statute. It is being done for malafide purpose.”
National RTI awardee Rajan Ghate said, “Barve does not fit in the criteria. In 2016, I had resorted to a hunger strike demanding to immediately fill the two vacant posts. In the present case there was conflict of interest and either Barve should have resigned as OSD to CM or the Chief Minister should have recused from the selection committee. Even State Chief Information Commissioner Arvind Kumar Nair has no knowledge of Konkani.”
RTI activists Sudip Tamankar and Kashinath Shetye also criticised the decision and said, “The selection committee is for namesake. The recruitment rules are thrown to the winds. What can people expect from the State Information Office when the government appoints persons of its choice to the posts? It is only to deny information,” said Tamankar while Shetye opined that the CM should have recused himself from the committee first.
Adv Pundalik Raikar said, “The Information Commission office has to be bipartisan and as far as possible with least government interference. Barve’s appointment will make the position suspicious.”