Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Senior Congress leader and AICC member, Girish Chodankar has filed a complaint with the Chief Secretary, Dr V Candavelou, IAS against former State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC), Shri Prashant S.P. Tendolkar, for falsely claiming benefits of Pension under Supreme Court Judges Act and Gratuity to which he is not entitled.
Calling for a review of the Judgment in WP/433/2021, Girish Chodankar said the Finance Secretary Director of Accounts are the custodian of the public treasury and as such they were duty bound to have ascertained the correct facts from the Administrative Tribunal and government should have instructed Advocate General (AG) to immediately file a review before the High Court in view that Shri Prashant S.P. Tendolkar who was appointed by the state government as Additional President of Goa State Administrative Tribunal on 20/09/2013 has served for only one year and five months till 28/02/2015 (Retirement date on completion of 60 years) and was not in receipt of any pension prior to his appointment as SCIC. Those joining government service on or after 01/01/2004 are covered under New Pension Scheme and not entitled to receive Pension /Family Pension.
Girish Chodankar further said that Prashant S.P. Tendolkar himself is an advocate and being an officer of the court should not have taken the court for a ride by deception and misrepresentation of facts. If he was receiving Pension from his previous government service then such pension amount should have been reduced from his salary as SCIC but this was not the case. Earlier this same person was abusing his position moving in a red beacon car during his tenure as SCIC but after public outcry he removed the red beacon.
Three months have elapsed since the date of the Judgment and yet it is not known why government has not filed any review in High Court or an Appeal in Supreme Court. The inadvertent mistake or error apparent on the face of the record has to be corrected by filing a review. Being a Court of Record, the High Court can very well review its own judgments under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and the power of review can be exercised on the discovery of new and important matter or evidence.
Scam after scam is being unearthed under this government’s nose and yet the Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant chooses to keep quiet. There is rampant corruption everywhere. The CAG has pointed to several lapses and nobody bothers. Can we allow the public exchequer to be looted in this fashion? I am waiting and watching and if no action is taken in this Pension fraud involving crores of rupees then I will take further steps in the matter in public interest he stated.
“BJP government is also misleading courts to loot Government treasury. Courts should be extra carful while dealing with matters involving financial liabilities. Similar methods they used to give permission to casinos and thereafter claims that it is as per court order, accuses chodankar.
