Team Herald
MARGAO: With the term of panchayat members coming to an end in the next few days, Cana-Benaulim Village Panchayat Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh Prabhudesai, who has already submitted his resignation, found himself in troubled waters as the Salcete Block Development Officer has filed a complaint against him for alleged involvement to signing the documents without the knowledge of the sarpanch and secretary.
In the complaint addressed to the Director of Panchayats, BDO Amitesh Shirvoikar stated that his office has received a letter from the panchayat secretary that Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh is making letter/correspondence to the concerned department with his signature without knowledge of the sarpanch and secretary, whereas he is authorised to sign only in absent, leave of sarpanch as per Section 64 (3) of Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
And hence, the BDO has urged the Directorate of Panchayat to initiate necessary action against the Nilesh.
Taking serious note of the same, a few Benaulim villagers have also expressed anger and demanded strict action.
However, on June 9, Nilesh submitted his resignation from the post of deputy sarpanch, and the reasons cited by him are very much surprising, wherein he has laid down several allegations against Sarpanch Vencila Fernandes.
He alleged that the sarpanch has discontinued the services of village panchayat staff such as Shelton Fernanes and Swizel D’Silva, without an opportunity being afforded for hearing them which is against the principle of natural justice.
“The sarpanch has discontinued the services of both the staff in a special meeting held on May 24, which was conveyed by sarpanch with an unauthorised notice signed by her, wherein the notice of the ordinary or special meeting has to be signed by the secretary as per the Goa Panchayat Raj Act,” he alleged.
Nilesh said, “Sarpanch has also disconnected the CCTV cameras of the panchayat office and surrounding of the panchayat ghar which were installed by him through a well-wisher to control and stop missing of important files, and also to control timings, movement of staff who are more engaged in personal work rather than the panchayat work.”
“In view of this I do not want to be part of the misdeeds and unlawful decisions taken by the sarpanch,” he stated.
