PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issuednotices to the Goa government and other respondents on a public interestlitigation challenging the appointment of Udaysinh Shrikant Raorane as chairmanof the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC).
The PIL, filed by activist Kashinath Shetye,sought quashing of Raorane’s appointment, alleging procedural violations,absence of an open selection process, lack of antecedent verification and favouritismin his appointment.
Shetye, relying on information obtained underthe Right to Information Act, 2005, alleged that there was no order directingany official to conduct a search for eligible candidates for appointment as aGPSC member. The petition further stated that no search report or scrutinyreport was prepared before Raorane’s appointment; and that the PersonnelDepartment did not advertise for the vacant post. As a result, no other personapplied or was considered.
The petition further questioned how Raoranecame to know about the vacancies when no advertisement was issued, whilepointing to vacant members’ posts from October 21, 2022, and the chairman’spost that fell vacant on February 29, 2024.
“Admittedly, no other persons were even consideredfor appointment, and no other persons applied for the same,” the petitionerclaimed, suggesting that Raorane “may have been especially invited to apply forthe said post”.
