Team Herald
PONDA: The Chief Secretary has directed the Revenue Department to conduct an investigation into the affairs of the Ramnath Devasthan at Ponda.
It may be recalled that activist Mahesh Dattaram Nayak, who was an intervener in a PIL filed by RTI activist Kashinath Shetye and three others, claimed that illegalities had been committed by the past and present managing committee of the Devasthan. The High Court, through an order dated October 13, directed the Chief Secretary to examine the allegations.
Nayak later made a representation to the Chief Secretary on November 16 about the illegalities committed by the Devasthan managing committee. The Chief Secretary brought the matter to the notice of the Revenue Department under secretary, who in turn took up the issue with the South Goa Collector on December 4.
The Collector, on December 17, asked the Ponda Deputy Collector to study the matter and submit a detailed report within 15 days.
The report will then be forwarded to the Revenue Department.
According to Nayak, the PIL has been filed by Kashinath and three others in the High Court for stopping irregularities and ensuring better functioning of Devasthan Temples in Goa. He had intervened in the PIL and brought some irregularities to the court’s notice.
