Panaji, Jun 9: The petitioner in medium of instruction (MOI) case and educationist Pandurang R Nadkarni, who took the Digambar Kamat government to court for approving grants to primary schools in English, will take over as new state information commissioner.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony of Alina Saldanha, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said, "A three-member committee has unanimously selected the name of P R Nadkarni for the post of new information commissioner."

The government had shortlisted three names for the post, which had been lying vacant for about a year and nine months.

The three names were: Dr Pradeep Paudwal, former project director of the Goa State Aids Control Society, D C Sahoo, secretary of civil supplies and P R Nadkarni, former educationist

The three-member high level committee comprised chief minister Manohar Parrikar, leader of opposition Pratapsingh Rane and urban development Minister Francis D' Souza was constituted to finalize the name of information commissioner.