PANJIM, JAN 12
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday issued notices to the State government, Department of Art and Culture and others, over alleged misuse of the scheme that facilitate special grants for organising cultural events.
The petitioner Domingos Barreto has charged that one Savio Coutinho who was elected as councillor from ward 16, and allegedly also acted as polling agent of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, availed of grants from the Department of Art and Culture under different associations even though he did not fulfill the criteria.
The petitioner has alleged that Coutinho and other two members collected lot of funds, donations in the name of organising festivals but appropriated the funds for personal use.
In 2003, he formed Colmorod Social and Cultural Association, and became its president. But no members were enrolled nor any rules or bye laws were framed for running the said association.
According to the petition, filed through Adv Saresh Lotlikar, Savio Coutinho formed yet another association and named it as Colmorod Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav.
He routed a letter for grants through Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for funds who also held the portfolio of art and culture.
However, his appeal for funds Rs 75,000 was returned by the Department of Art and Culture, with the remark that the association had not shown any receipts to be collected, and therefore it was not possible to work out the eligibility of grants.
In December 2006, he sent the updated appeal to the department. The department sanctioned Rs 50,000 to the Colmorod Social and Cultural Organisation, and also special grant of Rs 50,000.
According to the petitioner though a complaint was filed against Savio Coutinho, no action was taken.
