Marathe appointed as ombudsman

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The government has appointed Sharad Marathe, a retired officer of Goa general services, as the ombudsman under the Goa government employees (redressal of grievances forum) scheme.

The scheme was notified in 2001, which  was amended for the fourth time last month paving the way  for appointing a retired officer of Goa general services holding law degree as the ombudsman.

According to the order issued by the department of personnel on January 1, the term of appointment of Marathe will be initially for a period of one year, and will be regulated as per the aforesaid scheme.

The order enjoins that  before entering upon the office Marathe should  ‘subscribe’ himself to the Chief Minister or a person authorised and appointed by the CM on his  behalf, as required under the scheme.

Marathe will be paid after deducting pension, an amount equivalent to his last drawn salary, and fixed monthly travelling allowance of Rs 3,000.

Marathe, who was an additional secretary in the law department, was relieved from the state administration on December 31, 2018, after his extension expired.

Recently, the government through an amendment to the scheme  granted more powers to the ombudsman to probe government servants over allegations of corruption or misconduct under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rule, 1964.