FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
Suspecting personal rivalry VP petitions Chief Minister, Panchayat Minister, Chief Secretary and Panchayat Secretary (Secretariat) to investigate matter
Copy of petition also sent to Prime Minister, Defence Minister and North Goa MP
Petition points to other panchayats that follow similar process in hiring and that no notice has been sent to these panchyats
Says two other staff members appointed by same process but no notice has been served to them
Documents of peon's appointment, resolution to regularize his services and other documents attached with the petition
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Chimbel P'yat takes on DoP over services of its peon
Suspects personal rivalry; writes to higher up for investigation
THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
The Chimbel Panchayat has decided to confront the Director of Panchayats (DoP) over his directives to discontinue the services of its peon and has petitioned the chief minister and other authorities to investigate the matter after suspecting it to be a personal rivalry.
The Chimbel Panchayat has petitioned the chief minister, panchayat minister, chief secretary and panchayat secretary (secretariat) to investigate the matter.
A copy of the petition has also been sent to the prime minister, defence minister and North Goa MP.
It may be recalled that The Goan had reported that the DoP had issued directives to the Chimbel Panchayat for a third time and this time, it was based on a complaint by three panchas, of bribery allegations against the peon. Subsequently, the Chimbel Panchayat had rejected the said directives.
Further, the petition signed by acting Sarpanch Rajesh Vernekar states that many panchayats have recruited staff in a similar fashion and no action has been taken by the DoP.
“There are another two staff appointed by this village panchayat on daily wages since last two years. And there are many such staff appointed by (other) panchayats in Goa. But no such direction for discontinuing services of (the) two staff has been given... It clearly shows that there is some personal rivalry against the peon and this needs to be investigated,” the letter states.
Citing Section 115 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994, the petition further stated that the DoP has no role in dismissing any panchayat staff and the powers to appoint and dismiss staff rests with the panchayat.
The panchayat has further stood solidly behind the peon stating that he is sincere and hardworking, and discharges his duties honestly.
The petition further apprises that the wife, three children and old parents are totally dependent on the earnings of the peon and his removal from the job would make it difficult for the family to survive.
The petition concludes with a request to investigate the matter and give justice to the peon.
Documents of the appointment of the peon, resolution to regularize his services and other relevant documents have been attached along with the petition.
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Peon issued show cause notice
OLD GOA: Even as the Chimbel Panchayat authorities rejected the directives of the Director of Panchayats to discontinue services of its peon, panchayat secretary Ashish Naik has served a show cause notice to the peon asking why his services should not be terminated.
Further, the peon has been given a deadline of November 3 to reply to the show cause notice.
Speaking to The Goan, Naik stated that the directives of the DoP have been addressed to him and not the panchayat. “In such circumstances, I am duty bound to act on the directives as mandated under Section 113 A (xi) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994,” he stated.
Section 113 A (xi) states that the secretary should comply with the instruction issued by the Block Development Officers and superior authorities from time to time.
Meanwhile, the peon who should have been enjoying Diwali with his family was knocking the doors of the lawyers to explore legal options in the matter.
