'No public information officer in Goa CM's office'

The Goa chief minister's office (CMO) does not have a public information officer (PIO), Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference at the state secretariat, while reminiscing about his government's controversial decision to make swearing of an affidavit mandatory to confirm the Indian nationality of an applicant.

"I don't have any PIO (public information officer)," Parrikar said, adding that the CMO was only an approving authority. "I do not keep any files," he added.

Parrikar has come under fire in recent times from information activists, whose vociferous protests saw the government retreat and alter the circular demanding the swearing of affidavit with every RTI (Right to Information) application earlier this month.

The chief minister who himself was one of the most prolific RTI activists in his role as the leader of opposition now says that every time his office receives an RTI query, he forwards it to the general administration department (GAD).

"I forward all these application with Rs.10 (revenue) stamps to the joint secretary, GAD," Parrikar said, adding that on several occasions he comes across mischievous RTI applications.

Parrikar also said some PIOs in the state were under duress due to overwork, but added that work burden could not be construed as an excuse to skip RTI chores.