Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa bench of Bombay High Court has asked the sarpanch and the secretary of Morjim village panchayat to remain present on September 28 for failing to set up a Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
The division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice R N Laddha issued directions after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) reported that the Morjim village panchayat had not set up MRF as yet.
The Court also asked the Morjim sarpanch and the panchayat secretary to file affidavits showing cause as to why action should not be taken against them under the Contempt of Court Act.
The division bench further asked the Director of Panchayats to immediately inquire into the issue of non-compliance with the Court directions and submit a report by the next date fixing the responsibilities for non-compliance.
“If we find that reply is not satisfactory, we may have to consider whether this is a case of deliberate disobedience of the orders made by this Court from time to time,” the Court said.
During the hearing, Aldona sarpanch Ashwin D’Souza assured the Court that the village panchayat will establish MRF and make it operational within the next 15 days. Accepting the statement as an undertaking, the Court asked him to remain present on the next date in case MRF is not set up and to file an affidavit explaining the reasons for non-compliance despite repeated directions from the Court and despite repeated assurances from the panchayat about completion of work.
