PANAJI: The Goa Governor’s office has stated that the
Right to Information Act cannot apply to the Goa Governor. In a reply before the
Goa State Information Commission regarding the applicability of the right to information Act to the
Goa Governor office, the secretary to the Governor has stated that Goa Raj Bhavan is not a legal entity and not a “public authority” in terms of the Right to Information Act 2005.
Secretary to the Governor in an affidavit filed before the commission on Wednesday stated that the Goa Governor is the Constitutional and Formal Head of the State and enjoys immunity under Article 361 of the Constitution of India and is not answerable to any Court.
A social activist approached the commission seeking orders to be passed directing Raj Bhavan to appoint a public information officer and disclose public information under section 4 (1) of the
RTI act.
In his complaint activist Aires Rodrigues stated that despite being a public authority, a public information officer hadn’t been appointed at Raj Bhavan while other Raj Bhavans across the country and even the Rashtrapathi Bhavan are complying with the Right to Information Act.
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