Gov can’t be compelled to appoint PIO: Raj Bhavan

Panaji, July 11: The Goa governor is not a public authority and cannot be directed or compelled to appoint a public information officer under the Right to Information ( RTI) Act, the Raj Bhavan said on Wednesday.

The Raj Bhavan is not a legal entity and certainly not a public authority, the governor’s secretary, Rupesh Kumar Thakur, stated in a 15- page affidavit submitted to the Goa State I n f o r m a t i o n Commission ( GSIC).

A copy of the affidavit is with PTI.

The governor, not being a public authority, cannot be compelled or directed by the state information commission to appoint a Public Information Officer ( PIO), Thakur stated.

The GSIC has fixed the matter for final arguments on July 26.

The submission was made by the governor’s office in reply to a complaint filed by social activist Aires Rodrigues over the non- compliance of the RTI Act by the Raj Bhavan.