PANJIM: A blatant and unique case of land grabbing certified by the government functionaries has come to light in Sancoale.
In an extremely suspicious turn of events, a property acquired by the government for rehabilitation of some persons who were affected due to construction of NH 17-B road, was “sold” by the those every poor land losers to Pratap Mardolkar (more about him later) who in turn sold it to an ex Sarpanch, Ramakant Borkar.
In fact, the High Court in matter related to this land grab and transfer observed referring to one affidavit. The court order mentioned, “The affidavit surprisingly states Pratap Mardolkar purchased the property from the persons who were rehabilitated therein.”
“At least prima facie, all this appears to be extremely suspicious because it is inconceivable that a party who is rehabilitated can transfer the rehabilitated Government property to some other person,” the Division bench said.
The background
The HC, during arguments in one case came across a notice issued by the Administrator of Comunidades to Pratap Mardolkar about encroachment on yet another Comunidade property, surveyed under number 83/1 of Sancoale village.
The Attorney of the Comunidade admitted that it was Comunidade property, but it was observed by the Court that the attorney was trying to defend his President Mardolkar by saying that he has transferred this land to one Ramakant Borkar.
The Court order reveals that Pratap Mardolkar was the president of the Sancoale Comunidade and the land that was acquired and subsequently sold to Mardolkar and then to Borkar, was Comunidade land .
The HC in para 82 of its order strongly directed that the Revenue Secretary of Goa, should “consider whether any action under the Code of Comunidades must be taken against Pratap Mardolkar in the context of his continuance as President of Comunidade of Sancoale.
“Issues of conflict between interest and duties will have to be examined. The reports about rampant and large-scale encroachments on Comunidade lands will have to be considered. All this is vital if the Comunidades as a 123-year-old institution is to survive.”
Para 80 of the Hich Court order reads:
Attorney Jayesh Phadte admitted that this was Comunidade property but tried to defend his President Mardolkar by saying that he has transferred this land to one Ramakant Borkar. Though, this notice is not the subject matter of any of these petitions, Mr Pratap Mardolkar has filed an affidavit explaining how the property surveyed under No.83/1 was no longer a Comunidade property but was the property acquired by the Government for rehabilitation of some persons who were affected due to construction of NH 17-B.
Para 81 is more stringent: It states the affidavit surprisingly states that Pratap Mardolkar purchased the property from the persons who were rehabilitated therein. At least prima facie, all this appears to be extremely suspicious because it is inconceivable that a party who is rehabilitated can transfer the rehabilitated Government property to some other person.
The Rehabilitation Board, meanwhile, has passed the buck to the PWD. The Rehabilitation Board Secretary, Rajendra Mirajkar said, “This particular land acquisition may have been done by the Public Works Department or the Deputy Collector of the concerned taluka.”
This is clearly not the case, since it was done by the Rehab board itself.
A local activist who takes up causes for the protection of people’s land, Narayan Naik said, “How can land given as rehabilitation for land losers be sold or transferred to someone else? This is a fraud that has been hatched by the syndicate, who are the land grabbers of this and many other lands of the Sancoale Comunidade,” he said.
