MARGAO, DEC 1
The arrest of a talathi attached to Quepem Mamlatdar’s office for demanding a bribe to register a mutation appears just a tip of an iceberg. With the Government dumping mutation rules framed by the Goa Law Commission in cold storage and the revenue administration unable to streamline mutations, talathis and other revenue officials seem to be having a field day.
Complaints are galore over inordinate delays by the talathis and Joint Mamlatdars in processing applications for mutations. And, in the absence any credible monitoring mechanism, disposal of mutation cases are being termed as unsatisfactory if sources in the Revenue Department are to be believed.
Incidentally, District Collector, South G P Naik was candid enough in admitting the large number of complaints received by the Collectorate over the delays in mutations.
Says Naik: “It was against this backdrop that I had issued a circular in May last enjoining all Mamlatdars in the South Goa district to ensure they direct the talathis to return the mutation files to the Mamlatdar office within two days with proper account”.
If Naik is to be believed, he had framed guidelines for the Mamlatdars to ensure speedy disposal of mutation applications. One of the guidelines required the Mamlatdar to immediately certify the mutation by dispensing with the notice if the person selling the property is the same whose name appears in Form I &XIV.
Member of the Law Commission and city-based Lawyer, Adv Cleofato Coutinho said time-bound disposal of mutation applications will not leave any scope for graft. He says the Law Commission had compiled detailed rules on mutations, but the rules have not found favour with the Government. “These rules have not been brought into force till date. Unless rules are implemented, time-bound disposal of the mutation applications would remain a distant dream”, he added.
Another city-based lawyer said that the administration needs to be toned up to meet the requirements. “There ought to be a mechanism in place, including a penal provision, to act as a deterrent against the erring talathis and Mamlatdars”, he added.
