CALANGUTE: The general body meeting of the Reis Magos panchayat on Wednesday was held at the new panchayat building in violation of a High Court order, according to Rajesh Dabolkar, a Reis Magos resident, who along with Advino Fernandes, had recently filed a petition with the Bombay High Court at Goa claiming that the new panchayat building was illegal.
Following the petition, the HC earlier this week, had directed the state government to conduct an inquiry into the allegation. “The record prima facie discloses that a building has been constructed without obtaining permission from the authorities,” the bench comprising justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes had stated.
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On learning about the panchayat members meeting on Wednesday in the new building, the petitioner, Dabolkar called media to the spot and claimed the meeting was in violation of the HC order. “The High Court had directed the village panchayat not to use this building and they had given an affidavit that they would use the old building. They have violated the HC order,” he said.
However, Reis Magos sarpanch Sushmita Pednekar and panchayat members said there is nothing in the HC order which says they can’t have the meeting in the new building.
“The HC has directed the state government to conduct an inquiry within six months,” the sarpanch said.
During the hearing, advocate PA Kamat, representing the panchayat, told the HC that the panchayat is not occupying any part of the new building that only the cabin of the sarpanch is in the building. He also said the sarpanch will not occupy the cabin and move to the old panchayat ghar adjacent to the building.
The PIL had been filed by Advino Fernandes and Dabolkar, who are both members of the panchayat’s village development committee.
