PANAJI
GHRC Chairperson A D Salkar and member J A Keny in their order said, “The respondent had not conducted any independent inquiry as directed by the commission. Direct chief secretary to conduct independent inquiry and fix responsibility on defaulting officers.”
The complaint that was filed at the GHRC by activist and advocate Aires Rodrigues said that food 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. He however said that the contract was sub-let to a roadside contractor who clandestinely prepared the food in an open place owned by the police department next to the Verna Church Cemetery.
Directing the Chief Secretary to submit his detailed report within 30 days, the GHRC has adjourned the hearing to April 18 while also pointing out that the Chief Secretary had not conducted an independent inquiry as directed by the Commission on October 18 last year.
The GHRC in its order on Wednesday further noted that the so-called reply filed by the Chief Secretary was a mere replica of the inquiry report submitted by the DGP to the Home Department. The GHRC in its earlier order has already directed the government not to make any payment to the food contractor M/s Amonkar Classic Caterers.
Pointing out that roadside laborers were engaged for cooking the substandard food in most unhygienic condition with water stored in open plastic barrels and used for cooking, Rodrigues in his complaint further submitted that with thick bushes and grass all around, insects and cockroaches found their way into the food served to the police personnel.
