PANAJI
Big Brother, no rather 'Big Babush' will be on the lookout for chaos and malpractices in District Collector and Deputy Collector offices in the State, with the Revenue Ministry mulling setting up of a CCTV network to keep track of the busy revenue department offices spread across the State's taluka headquarters.
Speaking to reporters here, Monserrate also said that the Chief Minister would soon take a call on how to deal with Alvara land cases, after proper study.
"I told them (Deputy Collectors) that we will fit CCTV cameras in all the collectorate offices which will be directly connected to my office. I will basically speak to the IT Minister and I will have this thing done at the earliest, so that I can monitor from here, basically how the mamlatdars are functioning," Monserrate told reporters.
"I cannot give you a time frame because I need to speak to the IT minister, but I think within six months, this thing should be in place. It will be connected here (in his official cabin) and the Secretary as well, for them to know the functioning," he said.
Monserrate also said that he had been receiving complaints about partisan actions of some Revenue Department officials, for which he said corrective measures would be taken.
"As far as functioning of the mamlatdar is concerned, I want them to function in a non-partisan manner. I have got certain complaints that in fact lawyers are only drafting the audits and giving the mamlatdars. These things should not happen," he said.
Monserrate also met officials from the Tiswadi taluka, where he and his wife Jennifer have been elected from, to "understand their difficulties" while dealing with official chores.
"I have called them just to ask what the pending matters are. How they are tackling it? I told them that this is a statement I had made within six months (clearing of mundkarial cases). You just tell me why it should be difficult for you to implement that. From the interaction I had, I did not find it difficult from their side and it looks that they are working on this. There are not that many cases as there are presumed to be," he said.
The Revenue Minister also said that there was a need to separate law and order and quasi-judicial powers of mamlatdars in order to speed up clearing of mundkarial cases.
"We need a dedicated mamlatdar to deal with these matters. Three-four mamlatdars to look after tenancy, mundkarial, mutation matters. While law and order, there are other issues, where mamlatdars have duties. We need to have those two mamlatdars separate. They said one mamlatdar is not enough as far as law and order is concerned, because there can be law and order (situations) in multiple places at the same time. We are just looking into it.
We need to reshuffle the full staff actually. I think that is important," he said.
“I think people should get quick justice. Courts basically take time. Government should not take the time that the Court takes," he added.
Monserrate also said that as far as the controversial issue of Alvara is concerned, the government would not use "two yardsticks" while dealing with the cases, adding that he would seek a nod from the Chief Minister before processing the cases.
"There are two issues, some Alvara land was given by the erstwhile Portuguese governor or whoever it was. It was given to the people to cultivate. Then after 20 years the land belonged to them. Within a stipulated time you had to accept it. Some people have. Some people unknowingly, not knowing what the procedure to be followed, have not accepted it," he said.
"Their names are still figuring in Form I and XIV as occupants. Now basically we must take a call on that. Basically what happens, we should not use two yardsticks. We need to consider their demand as well. For that we will need to get some amendment. I will discuss this matter with the Chief Minister and then proceed," Monserrate said.
