Goa bureaucracy under tight scrutiny: Administrative crackdown and corruption cleanup

Goa’s administrative system is under close public scrutiny as the state government strengthens its efforts to address widespread corruption and administrative shortcomings. Recent actions indicate a broad reform strategy, with authorities taking firm steps to correct systemic misconduct. The current crackdown is connected to several corruption cases. The most prominent is the cash-for-jobs scam involving the accused Puja Naik, which exposed serious irregularities in recruitment. Allegations suggest that a serving minister, a senior IAS officer, and an engineer were part of a multi-crore scheme that cheated job applicants of nearly ₹17 crore. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated that Naik’s testimony will be officially recorded under judicial supervision and that strict legal measures will follow once charges are verified. The Congress party has also presented allegations of a ₹304.24 crore scam involving the misuse of public funds through non-competitive contracts, indicating broader governance issues. Records further highlight the depth of the problem: over 50% of police superintendents have faced disciplinary action, while only 19% of police inspectors have maintained a clean service record. In response, the government has empowered district collectors to invoke the National Security Act for three months and has created an oversight committee led by Justice U. V. Bakre, former judge of the Bombay High Court, to prevent misuse of authority. These measures reflect a clear commitment to improving administrative standards through stronger safeguards and judicial oversight.