MARGAO
With the 37th National Games underway in the state, with the commercial capital playing host to events at the Manohar Parrikar stadium, Navelim and at SAG grounds, Fatorda, many a senior officer has been found conspicuous by their absence in their offices.
With many a bureaucrat appointed as Executive Magistrates and entrusted with other duties at the games venue, litigants have complained of quasi-judicial cases being adjourned for want of the presiding officers.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar is another case in point. While City Fathers complained over the absence of the Chief officer at the Municipality, Sankhwalkar pointed out that he has to shuttle between the MMC and the SAG grounds, Fatorda since he is appointed as a Commandant at the Lawn Tennis venue.
When contacted, Salcete Mamlatdar Laxmimant Desai pointed out that some of the officers have been appointed as executive magistrates at the venue of the games. “Hearing of cases has not come to a halt. Only when the presiding officers have to attend to duties that cases are being adjourned”, the Salcete Mamlatdar informed.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar said it was not correct to say that the Chief Officer is not found in his chamber at the Margao Municipality. “The government has appointed me as a Commandant to oversee the arrangements at the venue of the National games at the SAG grounds, Fatorda. Since the last few days, I have been literally shuttling between the games venue and the Municipality”, he said.
Last week, the South Goa Sessions Court had adjourned hearings in the Panjim police station attack case and another case to November 24 after it was submitted to the Court that the police officers were busy preoccupied with the ongoing National Games.
The Sessions Court has been conducting trial in the criminal cases involving politicians on a week basis. The Court, however, had to give a long date after its attention was drawn to the fact that the concerned police officers were busy with the National Games.
