VASCO
Comunidade activists from across the State who have formed an advocacy group 'Justiça Para Comunidades' (JPC) met at Cuelim on Saturday evening to protect the rights and interests of the Comunidades in the State.
The JPC, which comprises shareholders/Gaonkars of various comunidades and is an initiative of Mahesh Kenkre from the Nerul Comunidade, discussed several pressing issues plaguing the Comunidades.
A committee comprising Oswald Pinto (president), Colin Coelho (attorney) and Aliette Heredia (treasurer) was formed on the occasion.
The members pledged to work hand in hand for the betterment and for safeguarding Comunidades all over Goa.
A discussion was held on the latest notification by the govt giving powers to administrators to sign sales deeds to transfer Comunidade land.
Key concerns raised included the paralysis and incompetence in the functioning of Zonal Administration offices that oversee Comunidades and the tenure of Administrators. A committee was formed to take up shareholder grievances before the administration offices. Issues like inordinate delays in transfer of shares, non-payment of dividends/Zonn, anomalies and suspected frauds in shareholding in some Comunidades were highlighted.
The interpretation of Article 438 of the Code relating to reversion of shares was also discussed.
The meeting stressed the need for shareholder activism to hold managing committees accountable and create awareness among Comunidade members about their rights and responsibilities.
The group vehemently condemned the State government's reported move to regularise encroachments on Comunidade lands, which is contrary to the Supreme Court's decision in the Jagpal Singh case. A delegation will soon meet the Chief Minister to apprise him of the legal implications.
The meeting deferred the decision on whether to register the group as an NGO under the Societies Registration Act.
Other issues discussed at the meeting included pending applications of share transfers and children of Gaonkars for long periods thereby causing hardships to common shareholders and sons of the soil.
All members suggested a representation for JPC in the form of committee to address various problems causing hardship to the common shareholders/Gaonkars and illegal land encroachments etc., before appropriate authorities.
Among those who addressed the meeting included Adv. Savio Correia and Celestino Noronha from the Margao Comunidade, Adv. Tome Carvalho from the Cortalim Comunidade, Lui Antonio D’Souza from the Goltin Comunidade, Julio Heredia, Adv. Clayton Fonseca from the Assagao comunidade, Aliette Heredia (a shareholder of various Comunidades), Santano Rodrigues from the Curtorim comunidade and Luel Fernandes from the Chandor comunidade.
