PANJIM: Fear of being hauled up over illegalities, Arambol Village Panchayat sarpanch Bernardo Fernandes tendered his resignation before the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday- a day after the Court expressed its displeasure over him and his family members running guesthouses without permissions.
The Court was hearing the matter related to illegal constructions at Girkarwado-Dando, Arambol. His resignation was accepted by the Directorate of Panchayats with immediate effect and by waiving period of 10 days as provided under the Goa Panchayats Raj Act.
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The petitioner submitted that he will not insist upon mandatory period of 10 days for the resignation to take effect as provided under Section 50(3) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act and that the resolution shall come into effect immediately on withdrawal of the order dated December 15, 2023 issued by Directorate of Panchayats.
Accordingly, Fernandes ceased to be the sarpanch of Arambol Village Panchayat with immediate effect in view of resignation handed and accepted by the Directorate of Panchayats, the court stated.
The High Court has ordered inquiry in the matter with regards to illegal construction and also into the functioning of the panchayat body.
During the previous hearing on a writ petition filed by Ravi Harmalkar and Rajesh Dabholkar, the Court had observed that the sarpanch and his close relatives had themselves put up prima facie illegal constructions and were operating guest houses without obtaining permissions from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). The Court has already directed the government authorities to seal 61 structures at Girkarwado-Dando, Arambol in Pernem taluka.
