Illegal structures: 98 p’yat secretaries served notices

MAPUSA
Acting swiftly on directions of the Bombay High Court at Goa, the Directorate of Panchayats (DoP) has issued show-cause memos to 98 panchayat secretaries for failing to submit compliance reports on illegal constructions within their jurisdictions.

Senior officials in the DoP said the action follows the High Court’s recent order mandating an inquiry and directing that appropriate action be initiated against erring officials within four weeks.

“The memos seek an explanation from the secretaries for not honouring the High Court’s directions and for failing to submit compliance reports,” a senior DoP official said, adding that the number of defaulters is likely to drop after responses are received.

Officials clarified that several panchayat secretaries had, through their advocates, submitted compliance reports before the High Court but failed to furnish copies to the amicus curiae and the nodal officer at the Directorate.

“Some secretaries are now stating that their reports were filed in court, but copies were inadvertently not shared with the nodal officer. Once we verify these claims, the number of those at fault will come down drastically,” the official explained.

The High Court had earlier observed that over 120 panchayats had failed to file compliance reports. However, subsequent scrutiny revised the figure to 98 after it emerged that some reports had indeed been filed, albeit without proper submission to designated authorities.

Despite this, the Directorate indicated that disciplinary action is inevitable in cases where secretaries are found to have genuinely defaulted.

“There will still be some who have not complied at all. In such cases, we will have no option but to initiate disciplinary proceedings,” the official said.

Sources said the Directorate has also begun compiling a consolidated status report on illegal constructions across panchayats, including details of notices issued, demolitions carried out and pending cases.

This exercise is expected to form the basis of further action and policy decisions.

The crackdown comes amid growing judicial scrutiny over illegal constructions across the State.