The figures are mind-boggling. This is one area where Xaxtikars have to literally undergo nightmares. They are made to wait for months, if not years, to get a simple mutation in the office of Salcete Mamlatdar office. And, they are fleeced and extorted by agents and touts as the slow pace of mutations has hampered quick disposal of the cases.
A look at the statistics dished out by the Salcete Mamlatdar office revealed the grim scenario. A whopping 4000 mutation cases are pending before the Salcete Mamlatdar as on January 24, 2013. That’s not all. The Salcete Mamladar office receives around 30 mutation applications a day, taking the number of applications received in a month to 600 on an average.
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Strange it may seem, but true. If the mamlatdar office insists that mutations can be effected within 45 days, around 534 mutations cases are pending with the Salcete mamlatdar for more than five years now for varied reasons. Another 1000 mutation cases are pending for a period ranging from 1-3 years. The number of cases pending for service of notice was put at 2818. Says Salcete Mamlatdar, Triveni Velip: “You may see a huge number of pending cases. But, the fact remains that I and my three Joint Mamlatdars have been disposing off around 350-400 cases every month. But, I agree that the system needs to be further streamlined to give quick relief for the citizens”.
She firmly denied allegations that agents or touts influence the disposal of mutation cases. On the contrary, Velip appealed to the citizens not to fall prey to the machinations of the agents. “I have heard of complaints that one has to approach agents to get mutations done. People should avoid these agents”, she added. Incidentally, even the Mahiti Ghar located right under the nose of the Mamlatdar and district Collector charged hefty sums of money, as evident by numerous complaints filed with the Collector.
Officials and citizens alike have underlined the need to streamline mutation procedure to give relief to the citizens. Says former member of the Goa Law Commission, Adv Cleofato Coutinho: “The Commission had mooted a host of recommendations to the government in 2009 to bring about amendment to the Land Revenue Code. One of commission recommendation was accepted by the government, doing away with the talathis in the mutation process”.
Coutinho, however, lamented that the government did not implement the other recommendations, which would have streamlined the mutation system. “I feel the government should overhaul the Revenue department and the office of Sub-Registrar. Piece meal measures would not help streamline the system”, he added.
