A contempt of Court petition has today been filed before the Bombay High
Court at Goa over the illegal use of the red beacon by Goa’s Chief
Information Commissioner (CIC) Prashant Prabhu Tendolkar.
The letter petition was mentioned today before a Division Bench comprising
of Justice F.M.Reis and Justice K.L.Wadane who agreed to examine the
petition.
CIC Prashant Tendolkar continues to illegally use the red beacon in rank
violation of the Supreme Court order. The rule of law has to prevail and
the CIC cannot be high- handedly using a perk and privilege he is not
entitled to. CIC Prashant Tendolkar is illegally and blatantly using the
red beacon on his official vehicle GA- 07-G-5555 in clear defiance of law
and amounting to a gross contempt of the Supreme Court’s order.
In the petition today it has been submitted to the High Court that interest
of Justice would demand that in view of the facts and circumstances of the
case, that Suo moto cognizance be taken by the High Court in calling for
the records and after examining the same taking appropriate action.
The Supreme Court in its order dated December 10, 2013 while expressing
deep concern over the misuse of the red beacon had given certain directions
to the State Government and in compliance the Goa Government by a
notification dated 3rd July 2014 had notified the list of persons entitled
to use the red beacon on their official vehicle.
The High Court’s attention has today been drawn that as per that
notification only allowed to use the red beacon are the Governor, Chief
Minister and Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice and Judges
of the High Court, Leader of Opposition, Advocate General and the Chief
Secretary.
The law enforcement officers though fully aware of this blatant violation
had failed to take action against CIC Prashant Tendolkar only because he is
politically well connected and only after a complaint was filed a challan
and show cause notice was issued to the CIC.
The attention of the High Court has also been drawn to the very evasive,
misleading and mischievous reply of the CIC to the show cause notice issued
by the transport department. The CIC while trying to justify his using the
red beacon has strangely claimed that he is equivalent in rank with a
Supreme Court Judge.
The CIC in the reply has further stated that if the mere non inclusion of
the CIC in the State list disentitles him from using the red beacon, it
would amount that the other central dignitaries whose names are not
included on the list cannot also use the red beacon in the State.
A copy of the letter petition has been sent to the Chief Justice of India
T.S.Thakur and the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court D.H.Waghela.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com
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airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
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