Photo caption.
GenNext President Durgadas Kamat addressing the media on the 'illegal' department of handicraft, textiles and coir. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Claiming that Department of Handicraft, Textile & Coir is an illegal entity, GenNext has urged the Governor of Goa to direct the Chief Secretary to initiate necessary action against those involved in forcing the illegal non-existing department of handicraft, textile and coir to function and operate.
Addressing the media, GenNext President Durgadas Kamat said the BJP government in March 2012 by a note initiated and placed before then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar a proposal for the creation of a new department of Handicraft, Textile and Coir. He said the department does not exist in the eyes of the law saying it looks like the BJP government is conducting government business as if it is their party’s property.
“This decision to create a new department should have been placed before the highest decision making body of the State government which is the Council of Ministers. “The department should have been created in accordance with the rules and business of Goa, 1991 without which the department would have taken birth and come into existence," he said.
Kamat further said, "In the eyes of law, all the actions, functions, operations and decisions which have been implemented in last two-and-half years of its illegal existence are deemed to be null and void. In terms of clause 30 of the Schedule to rule 9 and 10 of rules of business of government of Goa, 1991, the proposal to vary to change the decision taken by the Council of Ministers has not been placed before the Council of Ministers by GAD. Hence, clause 30 of the Schedule to rule 9 and 10 of rules of business stands violated," he said.
Kamat further pointed out that creation of new department enormously affects the State finance and such proposal for the creation should have been mandatorily placed before the Council of Ministers. “Any proposal to create and abolish any public office/department which exceeds maximum remuneration of 250 rupees is mandatorily required to be placed before the Council of Ministers for its decision."
Saying that prior concurrence of the Finance department is mandatory while creating a new department, Kamat said “in this case, the same has not been followed which is clear violation of rule 7 (1) (D) of the rules of business of government of Goa, 1991. The illegal entity and the illegal Minister have functioned for almost two-and-half years. This is a huge financial impropriety and also a colossal loss to the State exchequer."
Saying that politicians from the ruling dispensation in connivance with certain officers have honeymooned together to give birth to this illegal department, Kamat said such misconduct cannot go unpunished. “At a time when the State is reeling under Rs 18,000 crore deficit, such an illegality cannot be accepted," he said.
Kamat, however, said the department can be bestowed with the legal status and save the jobs of the 90 employees employed with the department.
