the goan I network
MARGAO
It was 10.30 am on Thursday. Around 57 litigants and their lawyers turned up before the Court of Deputy Collector, Margao for hearing of partition cases as per the scheduled time and date, only to find a notice displayed on the board stating that all the cases stand adjourned.
Reason: The Presiding Officer Uday Prabhudesai had to rush to the State Secretariat for a meeting fixed by the Revenue Minister, Rohan Khaunte regarding Goa Regularisation of unauthorised constructions.
In fact, for the second day in succession, revenue matters listed for hearing before the Deputy Collector, Prabhudesai stands adjourned, leaving the litigants in the lurch as most of them had come for the hearings accompanied by their lawyers.
If the mundcarial appeal and revision cases had to be adjourned by the Deputy Collector’s court at the eleventh hour on Wednesday as the presiding officer was holding additional charge of Hospicio hospital, the office of the Deputy Collector witnessed an uproar on Thursday after the litigants cried foul over the sudden adjournments of the cases. The litigants, who came from the nook and corner of Salcete, had to return home disappointed, in the process losing their precious time and money. A litigant told The Goan that though the hearing did not take place because of the sudden adjournment, they had to pay the fees to the lawyer, who had come to represent them in the court.
What agitated the litigants the most was that the court gave them a long date, February 22 to be precise, with many saying that frequent adjournments will only cause delay in the disposal of the cases.
When contacted, Deputy Collector Uday Prabhudesai said he was helpless and had no option than to adjourn all the partition cases listed for hearing on Thursday morning after the Revenue Minister convened meeting of all revenue officials to discuss issues concerning Goa Regularisation of unauthorised constructions. “I have told the Revenue Minister today that cases are sometimes adjourned due to circumstances beyond his control. The Minister suggested to give
short dates as far as possible, which my office would comply,” he added.
Wednesday had seen mass adjournments of mundcarial appeal and revision cases before the Deputy Collector on grounds that the presiding officer was busy with the Hospicio, where he is holding additional charge. Giving justification for the adjournment of the mundcarial cases on Wednesday, Deputy Collector Prabhudesai said he has received directions from the government to hold additional charge of Hospicio at least twice a week. “Since I have clear directions from the government to take charge of Hospicio hospital administration at least twice a week, I cannot abdicate the responsibility,” he said.
Frequent adjournments of matters in the revenue courts, right from the deputy collectors to the mamlatdars is a common phenomenon in Margao, with instances galore when these officers adjourn cases at the drop of a hat on the plea that they have to attend to law and order and magisterial duties.
