PANAJI
If the prolonged deadlock over the Mhadei River dispute wasn't troubling enough, the State government could face fresh criticism for its extravagant spending on outstation advocates for Supreme Court hearings.
While the Goan team of lawyers operates on a modest budget for their Delhi trips, government sources have confirmed to The Goan that each hearing costs the State exchequer a whopping amount only on the two high-priced Mumbai-based counsels.
Each hearing involves business class flights, five-star hotel accommodations costing between Rs 83,000 to Rs 1 lakh per day and additional expenses for food, and transportation. The to-and-fro trips to the apex court come to around Rs 10,000 per day. The looming question remains: Why not appoint local Delhi counsels to save taxpayer money?
With the week starting August 5 likely to see critical hearings on Mhadei in the Supreme Court, the government will once again have to loosen its purse strings “ to the tune of at least Rs 16 lakh per hearing which excludes the above cost of these outstation counsels.
“When Adv Bhavani Shankar Gadnis got the best verdict for the Mhadei dispute, what was the need for a second counsel,” the source added.
In stark contrast, the Goa team of lawyers led by Advocate General Devidas Pangam manages their trips with a more budget-conscious approach with their accommodation booked in Goa Niwas. It is learnt that expenditure on each of 14 advocates from Goa is around Rs 12,000.
Sources further reveal that a retainer -- High Court Public Prosecutor -- has been paid over Rs 35 lakhs since 2019 without any substantial work, raising allegations that some advocates are exploiting the State government under the guise of the Mhadei case.
Adding to the controversy, there are instances when money is spent with no fruitful outcome, such as unlisted matters causing delays. For example, a hearing anticipated in November was only listed on February 8, 2024.
Since November 2023, around 14 advocates from Goa have been traveling weekly for the Mhadei case, with little to show for their efforts.
Adding to the mix are several advocates from Mumbai and Delhi, bringing the total to nearly 20 advocates.
Regarding the logistics, despite setting up two video conferencing stations and sophisticated Xerox machines at Goa Niwas, there are no records of their usage. Moreover, the government booked a starred hotel in Panaji for conferences, despite having two well-equipped conference halls in Porvorim and several other facilities in and around Panaji government offices.
