Acting Chairman of the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) A.D.Salkar today heard final arguments on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues over the infamous 2016 BRICS summit 51 lakh food scam and will pronounce his order on April 25th.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues today submitted that the Bicholim based Amonkar Classic Caterers should be blacklisted and not paid the Rs 51, 60,000 for having violated the basic human righjts of the police personnel by supplying sub-standard food. Adv. Rodrigues also sought that criminal proceedings be initiated against the caterer for endangering the health of police workforce.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues in his complaint to the GHRC on 14th October 2016 submitted that the contract for a whopping Rs 51, 60,000 was given to Bicholim based Amonkar Classic Caterers without a proper tender for supply of food to police personnel posted on duty for the BRICS summit and that the contract was sub-let to a road side contractor who clandestinely prepared the food in an open space at Verna.
Pointing out that road side laborers were engaged for cooking the substandard food in most unhygienic condition with water stored in open plastic barrels and used for cooking, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint further submitted that with thick bushes around the insects and cockroaches found their way into the food served to the police personnel.
Adv. Rodrigues also stated that despite the GHRC having more than once reminded the Government that police personnel are Human beings and should so be treated, the authorities had failed to make any proper arrangements including food, water and toilet facilities for the police personnel.
Adv. Rodrigues further stated that while the Government had gone overboard in making all arrangements for those visiting dignitaries, it had conveniently neglected to cater to the basic fundamental and human rights of its own police personnel.
Stating that the authorities had lost sight that police personnel too have a personal life, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint pointed out that the Government could not be allowed to be a cause for ruining their health and lives. The GHRC by an order on 18th October 2016 directed that no payments should be released to the Caterer pending inquiry into the entire episode.
