TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: A note put up by Margao Municipal Vice-Chairperson when she was holding charge as acting Chairperson of the civic body issuing directions to the Chief Officer on matters pertaining to the accounts and taxation section has kicked up a major row bringing to the fore the powers of the chairperson and councillors.
Chief Officer Deepali Naik has taken strong objection to what she called as “interference” of the Vice-Chairperson in the administrative and accounts works, saying that such matters are not in the purview of the councillors. The Chief Officer further went to the extent of issuing a stern warning, saying that interference in the administrative and accounts issues by any of the councillors on personal capacity will be viewed seriously. She also asked the Vice-Chairperson to quote the section under which powers have been vested in her to issue instructions to the Chief Officer under the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.
Taken aback by the Chief Officer’s stand, Vice-Chairperson Berta Cardozo reminded the Chief Officer on Friday that she had moved the note on matters pertaining to the accounts and taxation section not as the civic Vice-Chairperson, but when she was acting as the Margao Municipal Chairperson.
What’s interesting to note is that the Chief Officer replied back in her notings that even an acting Chairperson has no powers to issue a note directing her when holding temporary charge. “This may be noted for the future. I have to go by administrative Acts and Rules binding on me and not as per the orders of the VCP/CP,” Deepali asserted.
Berta, however, told the media that the rule book is very clear that an acting Chairperson enjoys the powers of a Chairperson. Moreover, she said the note put up by her were only directions to the Chief Officer to ensure that all work files pertaining to works executed by the Council are compulsorily checked by the Accountant and Accounts and Taxation Section as per Municipal Accounts Code. “I had issued the direction not with any malafide intention. The direction was issued
because it had come to light that many works towards work executed by the Council were paid without checking by the accountant
and Accounts and Taxation officer of the Council,”
Berta said.
