Panaji: Goa's Deputy Speaker Anant Shet has appointed his son Amaresh Shet as his office staff, a RTI query has revealed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Mayem in north Goa, however, has denied the appointment, while party president Vinay Tendulkar has promised to enquire into the matter.
A comprehensive RTI query on the staffing pattern of Goa's cabinet ministers and legislators with cabinet status shows Amaresh Shet is one of the 15 people appointed on the his staff list. According to the details, Amaresh Shet draws Rs 16,993.
But the deputy speaker dismissed the findings. "Who told you that? That is wrong," he said Tuesday.
When asked if he was aware of the prime minister's diktat to his cabinet that relatives should not be appointed as official staffers, he disconnected the call.
Speaking to IANS, BJP's state president Vinay Tendulkar, however, said: "We will check with him (Anant Shet). If he has appointed his son, we will ask him to replace the staffer."
On the other hand, as per the response to the RTI application, Congress' general secretaries are multi-tasking their way into public service.
Savio de Souza, general secretary and one of the seven staffers at the Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane's office, is appointed as a computer operator cum telephone operator.
This is not the first time that elected Congress leaders have created a stir due to appointments made in their office. During his tenure from 2007-12, former home minister Ravi Naik had appointed his sons Roy and Ritesh as personal assistant and private assistant respectively.
