MARGAO: In a significant development, the Mamlatdar of Salcete, Laxmikant R Desai, has taken stringent action against the present managing committee of the Tenants Association of Voddi Khazan, Ilhe-de-Rachol. Following a petition filed by Querobino P Gomes, the Mamlatdar issued an order prohibiting any bank transactions and mandating a comprehensive yearly audit for the committee’s entire tenure.
The complaint, filed in December 2022, alleged serious misconduct by the Chairman/Committee of the Tenants Association of Voddi Khazan. It claimed that the committee had evaded yearly audits and lease agreements, resulting in funds misappropriation. The association was also found to be in violation of the Goa Demand and Diu Agricultural Tenancy (Joint discharge of responsibility of tenants) Rules, 1975.
Despite multiple opportunities, the respondents failed to provide necessary documents or responses to counter the allegations. The Mamlatdar’s thorough review of the case concluded that the committee had neither conducted yearly audits nor signed lease agreements with previous auction winners for fishing rights.
Mamlatdar Desai emphasised that the committee’s inadequate accounting practices had inflicted financial losses upon the tenants association, posing harm to agriculturalists. Consequently, he directed the dissolution of the current managing committee and the formation of a new one through proper procedures.
The Mamlatdar’s order strictly forbids any further banking transactions by the current committee and has been communicated to the relevant bank. A comprehensive yearly audit covering the committee’s entire tenure is mandated within 30 days, along with the prompt submission of all association documents, bank records, passbooks, and cheque books to the Mamlatdar’s office.
