PANAJI
The State government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the sealing of premises by village panchayats under Section 72-A of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, curbing the power of sarpanchs to initiate sealing action unilaterally.
Under the new procedure, a panchayat will have to first pass a formal resolution before any premises being used for trade, business or other purposes without the required permission can be sealed. The government has also put in place a mechanism involving multiple departments, ensuring that sealing action is not confined to the panchayat level. Revenue department and Police authorities will be involved in the process, with district-level teams proposed for North Goa and South Goa.
The teams will function in coordination with the respective Director of Panchayats, according to the SOP. The move comes after the Panchayati Raj Act was recently amended to empower village panchayats to seal establishments found operating without permission. “However, concerns had been raised over the manner in which the power was being exercised, particularly with regard to administrative procedure, accountability and principles of natural justice,” sources said. Sources said that the new SOP is intended to establish a uniform procedure and prevent arbitrary action. The government's move also comes against the backdrop of the sealing of illegal clubs in the Calangute panch ayat area by sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. The action had highlighted concerns over the exercise of sealing powers directly by a sarpanch without a broader institutional process. With the new procedure, sealing action under Section 72-A will require a panchayat resolution and coordination with the designated district-level authorities, effectively placing checks on the unilateral exercise of powers by sarpanchs.
