the goan I network
MARGAO
Who amongst the three Ministers -- Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar, Vijai Sardesai and Francis D’Souza “ all members of the Cabinet Advisory Committee, will find favour with the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to preside over a Cabinet meeting in the event the Chief Minister is unable to do so either via video conferencing or by circulation in case of any exigency.
A glance at the arrangement put in place by the Chief Minister for the disposal of government business during his absence from the country revealed that the meeting of the Council of Ministers when held shall be presided over by Parrikar through video conferencing or by circulation. Parrikar, however, has reserved the right to nominate a Minister of his choice to preside a particular meeting of the Council of Ministers in the event he is not able to preside such a meeting either via video conferencing or by circulation.
In fact, the Chief Minister was categorical in saying that in the event it is not possible for him to preside over the Cabinet meeting via video conferencing or by circulation, he will decide at a later point of time the Minister nominated by him will preside at a particular meeting of the Council of Ministers, further categorically stating “I will separately call the Chief Secretary in such an exigency”.
CM to keep tab through CS
MARGAO: A reading of the Chief Minister’s note states that the Chief Secretary as well as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister shall forward “daily reports” of the happenings and events in the State covering all important matters. In case of doubt of any nature whatsoever, CS shall through email or by phone contact the Chief Minister and seek directions/orders.
The advisory
committee’s role
MARGAO: The Committee may meet at least once every week, at such point of time and place, and is empowered to decide unanimously amongst themselves on certain important financial year-ending issues and or other time bound emergency matters with regard to which the administration may be required to take a decision upon in the Chief Minister’s absence.
CAC doesn’t have constitutional mandate: expert
MARGAO: Constitutional lawyer, Adv Cleofato Coutinho has said the Cabinet Advisory Committee comprising of Minsters Sudin Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai and Francis D’Souza has no constitutional mandate, saying the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has put the Advisory Committee in place only to keep the alliance partners in good humour during his absence.
He further said that the Cabinet Advisory Committee is just a namesake panel, adding that the Chief Minister will rule the state and lead the administration through the office of the Chief Secretary.
Adv Cleofato told The Goan that the Chief Minister is empowered to appoint a senior Minister to preside over the Cabinet in his absence, but hastened to add that there’s no provision in the Constitution providing for a Cabinet Advisory Committee in the absence of the Chief Minister.
