Goa Minister's move to appoint government critic as OSD stokes row

A move by Goa's Power Minister Nilesh Cabral to rope in Kashninath Shetye, an assistant engineer in his department as well as a prolific RTI activist and public interest litigant, as his official on special duty (OSD) -- without the latter's consent -- has triggered a controversy.

While Cabral, considered close to the ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, claims that Shetye's thorough knowledge of the department's functioning could help him run its affairs well, sources close to Shetye say the move is aimed at harassing him.

"Shetye has taken on government on numerous occasions in courts and has exposed systemic shortcomings through his Right to Information applications. This move by the Power Minister to appoint him as an OSD is aimed at harassing him," said a member of Shetye's family.

An OSD is usually a coterminus appointment of a government servant or a civilian based on the recommendation of the minister concerned.

Over the last decade, Shetye has authored nearly 800 RTI applications as well as nearly 80 petitions filed with the National Green Tribunal and the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court challenging government decisions and systemic failures related to mining, land allotment, environment, police and civic affairs.

Shetye has also been prolific on social media commenting critically on socio-political subjects and issues dealing with corruption and government malpractice.

In 2017, a motion was moved by Cabral to file a privilege motion against Shetye, who had uploaded a copy of the assembly question asked by the minister (then in capacity as BJP MLA) which sought to know the details of Shetye's attendance and the number of litigation cases filed by the government servant.

Parrikar had also told the House then that four separate inquiries would also be started against Shetye related to alleged accumulation disproportionate assets, how the government servant-cum-activist obtained a gun-licence and alleged violations of service rules.

Cabral now claims that there was no motive attached to his move to rope Shetye in as an OSD, even as Shetye's family members allege harassment.

"He has good knowledge about the department. He can help streamline the department, instead of acting like an NGO... I appreciate his talent by moving a file to appoint him as OSD," Cabral told reporters.

Shetye, who currently works as an Assistant Engineer (civil planning) with the state electricity department office in Panaji, said he was awaiting orders and that he was open to taking "legal recourse".

"I am following my right as a citizen of India to petition against wrongdoing. I also want to be allowed to work as a civil servant in my department. Let the order appointing me as an OSD reach me. I will decide on whether to seek legal recourse," Shetye said.

--IANS

maya/prs