PANAJI
The circular issued by Varsha Naik, undersecretary of the General Administration Department, is a watered down version of what was initially proposed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who had initially insisted that even MLAs had no right to summon government servants to their houses or political offices for meetings.
The opposition had raised their voice against a government decision to ban government officials from attending meetings at either the residences of offices of MLAs and ministers.
Ponda MLA Ravi Naik during the previous one-day session of the House, was the first to raise the issue questioning the limitations accusing the government of ‘dictatorship.’
He argued that the MLAs have the right to hold meetings including those which involve government officers.
“When we have our constituents, it is important that the JEs (junior engineers) are present so that they can answer questions,” Naik argued.
However, chief minister Manohar Parrikar would have none of it.
“No meetings at the residences of the MLAs and ministers. If you want to hold meetings they should be either in the official chamber, in the case of ministers or in the offices of the collectorate. No other person can have meeting in places of his choice,” Parrikar said.
“Ministers can also hold meetings in the department. But not in even an MLA’s office. Officers are meant to be in offices to attend to the people,” Parrikar said promising that a detailed circular would be issued after which the opposition could oppose it.
