HC notice to govt over PIL against GPSC member’s selection

Panaji: The high court has issued a notice to govt in a public interest petition challenging the appointment of Udaysinh Shrikant Raorane as a member of the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC).

The petitioners — Santosh Manjrekar, Premendra Vernekar, Dominic Pereira, and John Nazareth — represented by Aldona MLA and advocate Carlos Ferreira, questioned the decision-making process. They argued that the appointment was made without issuing any advertisement and without any inquiry, verification, or scrutiny.

In the appointment of a constitutional functionary, there ought to be a thorough and meticulous inquiry and scrutiny regarding each candidate’s antecedents to determine whether they possess the requisite ability, independence, and integrity for such a post, the petitioners said.

They submitted to the HC that Raorane was appointed based on a noting by the chief minister dated March 2, 2023. “It is desired to appoint Dr Udaysinh Shrikant Raorane as a member of the Goa Public Service Commission. The appointment process may be completed at the earliest,” it read.

The petitioners said that the CM appeared to have made the noting based solely on Raorane’s biodata, which he submitted in Oct 2022. No inquiry was conducted to verify his antecedents or the contents of the biodata before the noting was made, they submitted.

Since the vacancy was never advertised, it is not known how Raorane even had knowledge that there was such a vacancy in Oct 2022, they said, adding that no other person was even considered and no other person applied.

Despite being appointed as a member of the commission in July 2023, Raorane did not take charge since he was yet to be relieved from his position at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, the petitioners said.

They added that his biodata shows he was a resident of Nashik working as the deputy registrar of establishment (human resource department) at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, when he applied for the post.

Moreover, they submitted that the commission is a constitutional body that has to discharge functions set out under Article 320 of the Constitution. They said the functions include conducting examinations for appointments and being consulted on all matters relating to the methods of recruitment of civil posts in Goa.

It is imperative that those appointed as members of the commission be persons of integrity and ability since their actions will have far-reaching consequences, the petitioners said.