Margao: In what can amount to misuse of power, Sarpanch of Netorlim Panchayat has called for a special gram sabha to discuss the externment proceedings moved against her deputy Abhijit Desai on Sunday.
South District Administration has apparently began an externment proceedings against Desai, after his role was alleged in several offences at Sanguem police station and also Crime Branch in Panaji.
Netorlim Panchayat which has been controlled by Desai has now moved in a very unconstitutional way to help Desai wriggle out from the crisis by calling for a special gram sabha on December 9 at 10.00 a.m.
The notice which is displayed at the office of panchayat reads that all the Gram Sabha membes of Village Panchayat Netorlim are hereby informed that the Extra Ordinary Special Gram Sabha meeting of the village panchayat will be held at village panchayat office on December 9, 2018 at 10.00 am to transact following business as per Agenda.
“To discuss and decide on Externment of Deputy Sarpanch Abhijit S Desai from South Goa,” the topic adds.
As per Goa Panchayati Raj Act, Gram Sabha does not empower Sarpanch to take up issues of personal gain. If done so, Sarpanch might attract stringent action upto disqualification from the post.
Besides financial matters like budget, Gram Sabha can discuss only issues related to the development and other programmes of the work proposed for the current financial year.
Gram Sabha can also be proposed for organizing community service, voluntary labour or mobilization of the local people for any specific work included in the program.
In case of Netorlim Panchayat, Sarpanch has tried to mobilize people against the externment proceedings, which is a legal method to crack down on criminal activities in the district.
It is to be seen whether Minister of Panchayat Mauvin Godinho or Directorate of Panchayat suo-motto takes cognizance of this Gram Sabha, which is likely to create the history in the Goa’s Panchayat records.
