Team herald
The Goa State Election Commission (EC) disqualified Majorda-Utorda sarpanch Georgina Mascarenhas after the charges of corruption against her were proved. Local Alex Pereira had complained that Georgina gave her husband short contracts of sound and video. The EC has disposed of the case in one-and-a-half months.
Georgina cannot contest elections for five years now. The panchayat is also in a dicey situation and may face a no-confidence motion by the panch members.
While fielding a question from Pereira regarding the contracts, Georgina had declared at a gram sabha in April that she had committed no illegality. She was proven wrong as the vouchers drawn were in her husband’s name. On April 20, a complaint was filed demanding her disqualification.
Expressing surprise and happiness over the EC’s quick disposal of case, Pereira said, “I salute the election commission for the prompt action in this case. This should act as a deterrent to all other autonomous government leaders who are involved in corruption and malpractices.”
Pereira himself had drafted and argued the case. He stated, “The newly-elected Deputy Sarpanch Domingos Rodrigues is also a defaulter. He lives in a house built on the PWD setback area of the road in Utorda. In addition to that, he has allowed several illegal structures in his tenure. I will be filing a complaint against him too.”
