AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
Even as six new revenue officers are awaiting posting since the State government appointed them nine months ago, shortage of mamlatdars have been hampering work in several talukas across
the State.
Joint mamlatdars have been saddled with additional charge leading to adjournment of several cases in mamlatdar courts.
In Bardez, there has been no presiding officer in ‘Court 6’ for the last six months and the charge was handed over to the joint mamlatdar of ‘Court 5’.
Unable to cope up with the workload, the joint mamlatdar has been adjourning cases by the dozen on a daily basis.
“It’s high time the government appoints a presiding officer in ‘Court 6’ at the earliest. All our matters are getting adjourned for the last several months. And the dates allotted are of long duration, sometimes extending to two months,” said Adv Naveen Bhivshet of Mapusa.
Surprisingly, the situation is not confined to only Bardez, as investigations have revealed that mamlatdar offices in Pernem and Bicholim have also been facing similar condition where joint mamlatdars have been slapped with additional charge.
Sources informed that a joint mamlatdar from Bicholim, who was holding additional charge, has recently been deputed as OSD to the State Chief Electoral Officer, putting additional burden on the already depleting staff in the taluka.
Sources further informed that such a situation is prevailing in almost all the talukas in the State.
The State government had appointed six new mamlatdars on March 9, on the recommendation of the Goa Public Service Commission.
Curiously, even after nine months, the new mamlatdars were still awaiting posting orders from the government.
Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte informed that the new mamlatdars were undergoing training and would soon be absorbed in service.
But sources informed that the six recruits had finished three-month training in August and were awaiting posting since then.
“There is some delay, which we accept. I have already informed the personnel department that we need the postings so that the people can be placed fast,” Khuante said.
It may be recalled two weeks ago, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte had claimed that the administration in the State had come to a standstill and had blamed a section
of the bureaucrats for the
impasse.
He also claimed that these officers were taking advantage of the chief minister’s absence on account of his illness.
