Panjim: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today sought the intervention of the Goa Governor to the illegal manner in which Prof. M .K. Janarthanam, a retired Professor of Goa University has been appointed as Chairman of the newly established Goa State Research Foundation.

 

In a representation sent to Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, Adv. Rodrigues has pointed out that in July this year the Goa Legislative Assembly passed the Goa State Research Foundation Bill after which the Act was notified but that to date the rules have not been framed as required by law. Adv. Rodrigues has stated that without the rules being framed Prof. M. K. Janarthanam, has been appointed as Chairman of Goa State Research Foundation and is scheduled to take charge on 1st January 2023.

 

Pointing out that Prof. M. K. Janarthanam   is known to be very close to the BJP, RSS and its Science & Technology wing Vidnyan Bharti, Adv. Rodrigues in his representation has stated that this hasty and politically influenced mode of appointment is just another example of distinct favouritism which is now synonymous with the BJP.

 

Stating that for this vital post the government has sadly bypassed senior and highly qualified Goans based in Goa and overseas, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the selection for this senior position which is on par with that of a Vice-Chancellor should have been done very transparently and strictly on merit after forming a selection committee.

 

Alleging that it was a mere selection by nomination as a political decision, Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that this appointment of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam smacks of sheer partiality and favouritism besides a decision bad in law as it has denied a fair opportunity to meritorious candidates.

 

Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that the Chairman of the Goa State Research Foundation should have been selected from the best talent available and not by nomination at the diktats of the RSS headquarters in Nagpur as has obviously been done in this case.  Adv. Rodrigues in his representation to Governor Pillai has also sought that this skewed nomination of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam needs to be urgently annulled and that the rules to select the Chairman need to be framed and notified while a search committee needs to be formed and the post needs to be advertised.

 

Stating that a process similar to the selection of the Vice-Chancellor of any State University needs to be followed to uphold the spirit and do justice to the Goa State Research Foundation Act, Adv. Rodrigues has expressed the hope that Governor Pillai would issue necessary and appropriate directions to ensure that the established Rule of Law prevails and that it is not an unholy start for the Goa State Research Foundation in the New Year.