OLD GOA
Leaders from the BJP, Congress and Goa Forward along with a panch and an activist gheraoed the Additional Director of Panchayats Umakant Korkankar on Thursday over his ex-parte order of suspending the resolution adopted in a no-confidence motion against the Siridao sarpanch.
All the leaders -- Ramrao Wagh (BJP), Tony Fernandes (Congress) and Durgadas Kamat and Jagdish Bhobe (Goa Forward) -- along with social activist Rama Kankonkar and Siridao panch Antonio Afonso blamed Korkankar for passing the order without hearing the four panchas, who had ousted the Siridao sarpanch in the no-confidence motion amid high drama outside the panchayat office on July 30.
It may be recalled that the four panchas, Deputy Sarpanch Melanie de Souza, panchas Antonio Afonso, Camilo Marques and Vasu Kuncolienkar, had moved a no-confidence motion against Siridao sarpanch Jagdish Gauns.
The no-confidence motion was conducted outside the panchayat as the police did not allow entry inside the panchayat over complaint of attempted burglary. In the motion, all the four panchas present voted in favour, thereby ousting Gauns by 4-0 votes.
But, more drama unfolded as Additional Director of Panchayats Umakant Korkankar suspended the resolution adopted at the no-confidence motion by granting an ex-parte stay on July 4, before sending the file to the Secretary (Panchayats) for further action in the matter.
Upset over the move, the political leaders opined that the additional director has taken the decision as per the whims and fancies of his political masters.
Kamat warned that they would take the matter to the court where the additional director of panchayats would be answerable and not the government.
Not to be cowed down, Korkankar stood firm and informed that he has passed the order as the meeting convened to conduct the no-confidence motion was illegal.
This only infuriated the leaders and they sought to know how the meeting could be called illegal when the chief minister himself, on the floor of the house, had assured that the no-confidence motion would take place.
It was only after some lawyers intervened in the matter that the leaders left the chamber of the additional director of panchayats.
Meanwhile, Durgadas Kamat along with Jagdish Bhobe, Siridao Deputy Sarpanch Melanie de Souza, panchas Antonio Afonso, Camilo Marques and Vasu Kuncolienkar met the panchayats (secretary) and apprised him of the Siridao incident, while seeking justice in the matter.
Speaking to the reporters, Kamat said, “We met the panchayats secretary who is an IAS officer. We have shown all the documents to him with relation to the no-confidence motion, which was passed by a majority.”
“He has asked for a report by today evening and assured necessary action,” he said.
