The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) comprising of A.D.Salkar and J.A Keny has directed that a show cause notice be issued to Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma as to why his utter disregard to the lawful orders passed by the Commission should not be reported to his cadre controlling authority, the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The GHRC directions came after the Chief Secretary despite repeated directions has failed to conduct a thorough independent investigation and to fix responsibility on the defaulting officials on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues over the alleged 51 lakh food scam at last year’s BRICS Summit held in Goa. The GHRC has adjourned the matter to 28thJuly for the Chief Secretary’s detailed report.
Pointing out that despite giving several opportunities the Chief Secretary had not even shown courtesy to appear before the Commission, the GHRC has regretted that the Chief Secretary was not at all diligent and had not shown seriousness in the matter as was otherwise expected from the Head of the administration.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues in his complaint to the GHRC on 14th October last year had submitted that the contract for a whopping Rs 51, 60,000 was given to Amonkar Classic Caterers for supply of food to police personnel posted on duty for the BRICS summit but that the contract was sub-let to a road side contractor who clandestinely prepared the food in an open place owned by the police department next to the Verna Church Cemetery.
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 and grass all around insects and cockroaches found their way in 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 the 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 pointed out that the Government cannot be allowed to be a cause for ruining their health and lives.
The GHRC by an order dated 18thOctober last year directed that no payments should be released to the caterer pending inquiry into the entire episode.
