IN SHORT
Leadership Restrained: Prakash Velip has been barred from acting as UTAA President or handling finances by an interim order.
Long Tenure: Velip has led the UTAA since 2007, with elections not due until September 2025.
Interim Action: The restraint aims to secure proper governance and accountability amid ongoing scrutiny of the association.
District Registrar (South) and Inspector General of Societies, Suraj Vernekar, has issued an interim order restraining Prakash Velip from functioning as President of the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) or managing any of its finances.
Velip has held the UTAA presidency continuously since 2007, with the next organisational elections scheduled for September 2025. The order comes amid internal disputes within the association over financial management and leadership practices, though the detailed grounds for the interim restraint were not immediately disclosed.
Under the order, Velip is prohibited from exercising any powers related to UTAA administration or accessing the group’s funds until further notice. The Registrar’s directive is understood to be aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing potential misuse of association resources pending resolution of the ongoing inquiry.
The UTAA, a prominent body representing tribal interests in Goa, is now expected to convene internal meetings to discuss interim arrangements for leadership and financial operations during the restraint period.