[IAC#RG] SKY ROCKETING FEES OF GOA’S ADVOCATE GENERAL

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Aires Rodrigues <airesrodrigues1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 5:53 AM
Subject:
To: MANIRAM SHARMA <maniramsharma@gmail.com>

SKY ROCKETING FEES OF GOA'S ADVOCATE GENERAL

By Aires Rodrigues

It is now official that Goa is hosting India's highest paid Advocate General. While the State exchequer is in a very precarious state with the Aam Aadmi being taxed to the hilt, the Law Department has notified the enhanced fees of Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni.

For every appearance in the High Court Atmaram Nadkarni would now get paid Rs 10,000 to a maximum of Rs eight lakhs a month. In addition to these whopping eight lakhs Atmaram Nadkarni would also pocket Rs 75,000 per day for every visit he makes to Delhi for holding a conference or for appearance before the Supreme Court. Atmaram Nadkarni will now be paid many times more than even the President of India whose current monthly salary is one lakh fifty thousand. What an irony.

It is appalling that despite this grossly fat salary, in rank violation of professional ethics, Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni continues to directly and indirectly be the legal Messiah for some of the mining companies.

As the Advocate General, Mr. Atmaram Nadkarni even had the audacity of attending as Chief Guest on June 16^th last year a public function at Neturlim organized by one of his client Sesa Goa – Vedanta which is allegedly involved in various mining irregularities. If this is what we see with our eyes we could only speculate what is transpiring under the table and behind the scenes.

In addition, the frequent 'wining & dining' as seen in the colorful "page 3" appearances at parties/functions hosted by the very litigants or persons having direct or indirect financial interests with the State Government, who most often are litigating in Court or elsewhere, with the State Government, brings a shadow of doubt on the nature of relationship enjoyed and the detachment possible in the performance and discharge of functions.

Mining, Casinos and the builder's lobby is where the Cream and Jam lies, which tops up the swanky bread and butter. And nobody knows this better than our Mercedes driven Atmaram Nadkarni.