Adv. Aires Rodrigues has filed a complaint with the Goa State Information Commission against the Goa Raj Bhavan for not furnishing the information sought by him under the Right to Information Act. The Public information Officer and the Secretary to the Goa Governor have been named respondents in the complaint.
Adv. Rodrigues in his application on 19th October to the Public Information Officer at the Goa Raj Bhavan had sought information on details of official tours and trips within India and overseas by the Governor and her family from the day she assumed office as Governor on 31st August 2014 to date and the total expenditure incurred on each of the tour and trip.
Adv. Rodrigues had also sought details of the unofficial tours and trips within India and overseas by the Governor and her family from the day she assumed office as Governor on 31st August 2014 to date paid for by Goa Government or Raj Bhavan and the total expenditure incurred on each of the tour and trip.
Adv. Rodrigues had further sought details of guests including VIPs, VVIPs and others who stayed at the Raj Bhavan from 31st August 2014 to date and the expenditure incurred on each such guest during their stay giving break up expenditure on stay, food, travel.
Also sought by Adv. Rodrigues were details of vehicles purchased for the Raj Bhavan from 31st August 2014 to date and the expenditure incurred on the purchase of each of the vehicle.
Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint filed before the State Information Commission has pointed out that though the mandated time of 30 days specified in the RTI Act has elapsed the Raj Bhavan has not furnished the information sought by him nor has responded to his application.
Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has further stated that it was very deplorable that the Goa Raj Bhavan instead of leading by example has been scuttling an Act which was enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Government.
Adv. Rodrigues has stated that this high-handed stand taken by Goa Raj Bhavan was unacceptable and it cannot be allowed to breach its constitutional obligation of having to comply with the law.
Adv. Rodrigues has in his complaint sought that the Raj Bhavan be directed to forthwith furnish him the information that he has sought and that penalty be imposed on the Raj Bhavan in terms of Section 20 of the RTI Act till the orders of Commission are complied with.
The Goa Chief Information Commissioner by his order on 15th October while disposing an earlier petition filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues had upheld the earlier orders of the Commission holding that the Goa Raj Bhavan is a public Authority and comes within the purview of the RTI Act.
