PANJIM: Even as there is a demand to give more powers to gram sabhas, the State government plans to amend the Goa Panchayats (Gram Sabha Meetings) Rules, 1996 and curtail discussion on any business beyond that listed in the agenda.
As per the draft rules issued in the gazette, by the Department of Panchayati Raj and Community Development, Directorate of Panchayats, has clearly stated that gram sabhas cannot be called arbitrarily and have to be notified well in advance.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 5 read with sub-section (1) of Section 240 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act No. 14 of 1994) and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, the Government of Goa hereby makes the following rules so as to further amend the Goa Panchayats (Gram Sabha Meetings) Rules, 1996,” the notification states.
It says that the meetings of gram sabhas have to be convened by the sarpanch. “The meeting of the gram sabhas shall be held on any Sunday of January, April, July and October of every year. Such meetings shall be convened by the sarpanch and shall be held at 11.00 hrs,” it states.
The draft rules also substitutes Rule 7 of the Act. “The notice of an ordinary meeting of the gram sabha shall be given at least seven clear days before the date of such meeting and in case of an extraordinary meeting, at least four days before the date of such meeting, along with the agenda to be placed before the meeting,” state the draft rules notification issued by Ajit Panchwadkar, Director & ex-officio Joint Secretary (Panchayats).
It further says, “No subject shall be discussed in such meetings besides the agenda as approved by the gram sabha.”
The notification further states that the draft rules shall be taken into consideration by the government after the expiry of 15 days from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.
“All objections and/or suggestions to the said draft rules may be forwarded to the Director of Panchayats and ex officio Joint Secretary to the Government of Goa, 3rd lift, 3rd floor, Junta House, Panaji, before the expiry of the said period of fifteen days so that they may be taken into consideration at the time of finalisation of the said draft rules,” it reads.
