PANJIM, DEC 22
Goa State Information Commission on Wednesday issued notice to Governor Dr S S Sidhu directing him to appear in person before the Commission on January 4, 2011 in connection with Right to Information (RTI) complaint.
The Commission has also issued notice against Special Secretary to the Governor Dr N Radhakrishnan to appear on the date of hearing.
The notices follow the petition filed by a lawyer activist Aires Rodrigues against the duo for not furnishing information under Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Rodrigues was refused information under the RTI wherein he sought details of action taken on complaints made by him to the Governor against Advocate General Subodh Kantak.
The advocate had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the AG.
The reply letter undersigned by Radhakrishnan declined to furnish the information stating that information under RTI Act could not be furnished as the Governor is not a Public Authority.
The reply also mentioned that an affidavit to this effect was filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa.
In his petition before the State Commission, Rodrigues stated that as the Governor has been notified as a Public Authority to furnish the information sought and that the refusal was contrary to the RTI Act, unreasonable, malafide and without reasonable cause.
At a public meeting, last week, the advocate asked the Governor not to hoist the Tri Colour on the Republic Day on January 26, 2011, if the latter claims he is not a Public Authority.
