PANAJI (GOA)
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) comprising of A.D.Salkar and J.A Keny today adjourned to April 17thfurther hearing on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues over the 2016 BRICS summit 51 lakh food scam. At the last hearing on 6th Feb the Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma had sought another four weeks to complete his probe while stating that the inquiry had been initiated and statements of police officials recorded with four witnesses examined.
On being informed today by the government advocate that a petition has been filed before the High Court by the Chief Secretary and DGP challenging the order of the Commission, the GHRC directed that the status of that petition be officially informed to the Commission.
On 14th December last year the GHRC had asked the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within 45 days after conducting a thorough inquiry and fix responsibility and accountability on the erring officials. The GHRC in its order outlined 28 points to be examined by the Chief Secretary while conducting the inquiry.
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 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 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 and grass around 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 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. Opining that it was prima-facie a food scam, 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.
