Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar has questioned the Goa Government over what he described as “two different standards” in the treatment of senior government officers, citing the retirement of Director of Education Shailesh Zingade and the one-year extension granted to Directorate of Accounts Joint Director Gajanan M. Naik.
Patkar said he had led a gherao of Zingade on September 28 over the pending demands of Goa’s pre-primary teachers. During the meeting, Zingade had assured the delegation that the concerned file would be moved within eight days, Patkar said.
However, within 48 hours, the Government issued an order stating that Zingade would retire with effect from October 1, 2026.
Patkar pointed out that around the same time, Naik was granted a one-year extension, with the Government order citing “public interest”.
“If an officer can be granted a one-year extension in the name of public interest, why was the Director of Education not retained when an important file concerning the rights and legitimate demands of pre-primary teachers was pending before his department?” Patkar questioned.
He also sought clarity on who would now ensure that the assurance given to the teachers on September 28 is fulfilled within the promised eight-day period.
“The Government cannot allow an assurance made to teachers to disappear with the retirement of an officer. The file must move, the commitment must be honoured and the teachers must get a clear answer,” Patkar said.
Patkar further questioned the basis for applying “public interest” differently in the two cases and demanded that the Government clarify its decision.
He said the pre-primary teachers had waited long enough and urged the Government to ensure that their demands were not delayed because of the change in administration.
“Goa’s pre-primary teachers have waited long enough. Their legitimate rights cannot be caught in administrative uncertainty. The Government owes them an explanation and, more importantly, action,” he said.
