SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: Even after extension of the deadline, none of the State’s 40 MLAs have filed their assets and liabilities with the Goa Lokayukta although only a fortnight is left for the cut-off date to lapse. The legislators had to submit their returns, including their family income, by August 1 as per the extended deadline after the initial deadline came and went without compliance.
The Lokayukta in April directed public functionaries to declare their assets and liabilities for 2012-13 by June 30. Later, the deadline was extended till August 1, giving MLAs a grace period of a month. Now, with two weeks left, perhaps the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition should take the lead in submitting their returns to the Lokayukta and set an example for their fellow legislators in this respect. The Lokayukta is bound to take action as per the Act if the functionaries fail to file their returns within the specified time.
Speaking to Herald, Mathew Samuels, secretary to the Goa Lokayukta said, “none of the 40 MLAs have submitted their assets and liabilities with the Lokayukta… 15 days are left for the deadline to lapse”.
Samuels said failure to submit their returns would attract action under Section 21 of the Goa Lokayukta Act.
As per the Act, if no statement is received by the Lokayukta from public functionaries within the specified time, the Lokayukta shall submit a report to the competent authority and send a copy to the public functionary concerned. Within two months of such report, if the person still does not submit the statement, the Lokayukta can publish the names of such persons in newspapers and file a report with the Governor.
Samuels said directions have been issued as per the Act’s provision, wherein the public functionaries liable should submit the statement within six months of the date of entering office.
Accordingly, the Chief Minister, Ministers, Members of State Legislative Assembly, president, vice-president, chairman or vice-chairman, secretary, managing director of a local authority, or government company established under a statute and owned by the government of Goa, or institutions receiving grants from the State government have to submit their statements of assets and liabilities to the Lokayukta in the prescribed form.
As per the Act, if no statement is received by the Lokayukta from public functionaries within the specified time, the Lokayukta shall submit a report to the competent authority and send a copy to the public functionary concerned. Within two months of such report, if the person still does not submit the statement, the Lokayukta can publish the names of such persons in newspapers and file a report with the Governor
