Minister for Women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane hurriedly announced that Vidya Gaude would be appointed as the Chairperson of the Goa State Women’s Commission.
PANAJI
RTI REVEALTION: IN BLACK & WHITE
* Patkar was appointed via a special recommendation from Vishwajit
* As per file notings Vishwajit had last year moved a note that new GSWC board be constituted with Patkar as Chairperson
* Rane specifically mentioned that notification be issued immediately without routing file through CM and that it may be notified with immediate effect
* Notification was swiftly issued within 48 hours reconstituting the GSWC with Patkar as Chairperson
* RTI reveals Patkar’s biodata was not before the govt while deciding to appoint her; provisions of GSCW Act also not adhered
* Nothing on record that Patkar fulfilled requirements as mandated by the law
Rane’s announcement came after the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women drew his attention to the fact that the post of the Chairperson of the Goa State Women’s Commission and the board was lying vacant for several months.
“A formal notification is being moved to appoint Smt. Vidya Gaude as the Chairperson of Goa State Women’s Commission. Further, a new board of GSWC will be constituted to give impetus to the department,” Rane said in a tweet.
The post has been lying vacant since November 13 last year when the then chairperson Purti Patkar resigned without citing any reasons.
Patkar was appointed via a special recommendation from the Minister Vishwajit Rane who moved a note asking that she be appointed and documents obtained through RTI have revealed that the department failed to do due diligence prior to her appointment.
As per the file notings the Minister for Women & Child Development Vishwajit Rane on March 4 last year moved a note that the new board of GSWC be constituted with Purti Patkar as Chairperson.
In his note Rane specifically mentioned that the notification be issued immediately without routing the file through the Chief Minister and that it may be notified with immediate effect while asking the Director to do the needful on priority.As per his wishes, the notification was swiftly issued within 48 hours reconstituting the GSWC with Purti Patkar as Chairperson.
The documents obtained by adv Aires Rodrigues reveal that Purti Patkar’s biodata was not before the Government while deciding to appoint her as Chairperson of GSWC while the provisions of the Goa State Commission for Women Act, 1996 were also not adhered to.
The Act requires that the Chairperson shall be an eminent Goan Woman by birth or by marriage committed to the cause of women. “There was nothing on record that Purti Patkar fulfilled this requirement,” Adv Rodrigues said.
The Act also requires that before nominating the Chairperson the Government shall consult Women’s organisations registered in the State. The documents reveal that there was no such required consultation. Rule 3 of the Goa State Commission for Women Rules, 1997 mandates that the Chairperson should hold a degree from a recognized University, be proficient in Konkani and Marathi and be at least 40 years old.
“There was nothing on record that the Government had ascertained that Purti Patkar fulfilled these three mandatory requirements,” he added.
Subsequent to Patkar’s resignation, Rane then recommended one Lawanya Shetye as Chairperson. But later on he sent further instructions that notification dated January 8 2020 appointing Lawanya Shetye as Chairperson be kept on hold.
