CMC rectifies error, Lavita now heads Standing Committee
The change is in line with the Panchayati Raj Act
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
A day after The Goan highlighted how the Cuncolim Municipal Council flouted the rules pertaining to the election of the chairperson of the Statutory Standing Committee, the CMC on Thursday claimed that the anomaly in the election procedure was rectified as per the provisions of the Goa Municipalities Act.
CMC vice-Chairperson Mario Moraes informed that the decision to make councillor Sashank Desai as chairperson of the standing panel has been rectified, saying that CMC Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas will head the statutory panel with Sashank as its member. “We have rectified the mistake of appointing Sashank Desai as chairperson of the Standing Committee since the Goa Municipalities Act states that the chairperson of the council ought to be the chairperson of the Standing Committee,” he said, adding that while Chairperson Lavita will head the Standing Committee, he along with Sashank and Premdeep Desai will be the other members of the panel.
A glance at the provisions of the Goa Municipalities Act revealed that the Standing Committee of Councils should consist of the president of the council as its chairperson.
Again, on the term of office of the chairperson and members of the Standing Committee, the Act says that the term of office of the chairperson of the Standing Committee shall be co-terminus with his term of office as president.
Meanwhile, Director of Municipal Administration Elvis Gomes has said that the Municipalities Act is clear that the chairperson of the municipal council ought to be the chairperson of the Standing Committee. “I will seek a report on the election of the statutory panels from the chief officer. If the Cuncolim municipality has flouted the rules, they will have to rectify the same and comply with the laid down procedure,” he said.
