The Directorate of Women and Child Devel opment has suspended three members of the South Goa Child Welfare Committee with immediate effect fol lowing complaints alleging procedural lapses, derelic tion of duty, conduct issues, bias and irregularities in the decision-making process. The three members were also holding additional charge as members of the Kushavati Child Welfare Committee. The suspension orders were issued by Director of Women and Child Devel opment Jyoti Desai. The suspended members are Dr Junza Mudras, Percy Sokori Fernandes and Adv. Shirley Sadira de Monte Fur tado Souza.
The three members had been appointed to the South Goa Child Welfare Commit tee through a notification dated July 28, 2025. They were subsequently given ad ditional charge as members of the Kushavati Child Wel fare Committee through a separate notification issued on February 25, 2026. According to the suspen sion order, the Directorate received several complaints concerning the functioning of the three members in the respective committees. The complaints raised concerns over procedural shortcom ings in the functioning of the committees, alleged lapses in the discharge of duties, conduct of members, alleged bias in the deci sion-making process and the manner in which decisions were being taken. The government has stat ed that a detailed depart mental inquiry is necessary to examine the allegations in an impartial and transparent manner. Pending the inquiry, the three members have been placed under suspen sion with immediate effect.
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During the period of sus pension, the three members have been barred from exer cising any powers, perform ing any functions or enjoying any privileges associated with their positions on the Child Welfare Committees. They have also been di rected to immediately hand over all files, documents and records relating to the com mittees in their possession to the chairpersons of the South Goa and Kushavati Child Welfare Committees or to the District Child Protec tion Unit. A detailed departmental inquiry into the allegations will be conducted through the Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Pro tection of Child Rights.
The suspended members will be given an opportunity to present their defence dur ing the inquiry. The order states that the suspension has been affect ed to ensure that the inquiry into the complaints is con ducted in an impartial and transparent manner and that the allegations are examined objectively. The government will de cide on further action after receiving the inquiry report. The suspension, therefore, is pending the outcome of the departmental inquiry and does not by itself constitute a final finding on the allega tions against the three mem bers. Copies of the suspension orders have been forwarded to the Chief Minister, Minis ter for Women and Child De velopment, Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Depart ment, North and South Goa Collectors, Superintendents of Police of both districts, the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the concerned Child Welfare Committees and child protection authorities.
The action comes against the backdrop of the impor tant role played by Child Wel fare Committees in matters concerning children in need of care and protection. The department has stressed the need for their function ing to remain transparent, impartial and in accordance with the prescribed proce dures.
