MARGAO: Objections have been raised by Gauncars to the appointment of the five-member commission in connection with holding the Comunidade Convention in mid-January 2024. They objected to the fact that the member on the commission are only from three talukas.
It may be recalled that the Revenue department has recently invited suggestions from members and components of the Comunidades in Goa, which will then be incorporated in the agenda for the Comunidade Convention.
“I strongly object to the order issued by and in the name of the Governor of Goa constituting the Commission under Article 652 of the Code of the Comunidades. It seems the Governor is either unaware that the Comunidades exist in other talukas of Goa besides the old conquest talukas of Tiswadi, Bardez and Salcete since the members of the Commission are only from Tiswadi, Bardez and Salcete or that he has
not been consulted and order is issued by Revenue department,” said Sadanand Uttam Malik, Gauncar and former Minister.
“I am also surprised to see the names of members of the Commission who all belong to one religion. Does the Governor want to pamper only one community with an eye on the general election to help the BJP government? Or that the Governor is blindly endorsing the decision of a government who had no role in the affairs of the Comunidade till the unconstitutional amendments to the Code made in 1984?” Malik questioned
He added that the Governor is empowered to act in in accordance with the Code of Comunidade independently and not on the advice of the government as applicable under the Indian Constitution and the laws thereof.
“Secondly, the delegates of Comunidade attending the convention should be finalised by the Assembly of the Gauncars in the session to be held in the month of November. In the instant case the order itself is issued on 29th November, not fulfilling the statutory requirements for convening the convention,” he added.
“I therefore appeal to the Governor to withdraw the Order constituting the Commission and reconstitute the same giving appropriate representation to other talukas taking into consideration the number of Comunidades existing in the talukas and to include the members from one community in Commission which is majority community in Goa and to give necessary time to select delegates through General Body,” Malik concluded.
