Team Herald
PANJIM: The State on Friday finally ordered the appointment of a Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and two State Information Commissioners (SIC), following the Governor’s consent to the selections.
Prashant Tendulkar will be the new CIC of Goa, while Pratima Vernekar and Juino D’Souza will be the two new SICs. They will assume charge after oath of office, which will be administered to them by the Governor.
The Cabinet had earlier approved the three names and the same were cleared by Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday.
The names for the three posts were finalised by a three-member committee comprising Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza and Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane.
Tendulkar is the former additional president of the Goa State Administrative Tribunal, South. Vernekar is a senior public prosecutor, while D’Souza is a lawyer and social activist.
The post of CIC has been vacant since January 2015, after the tenure of Leena Mehendale ended, while no SIC has been appointed since September 2012, following the departure of Dr Pradeep Padwal.
Three months ago, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had asked the government to reply within two weeks as to when the Lokayukta, the SIC and CIC would be appointed.
