the goan I network
MARGAO
The Betalbatim gram sabha was adjourned without transacting any business after former MLA Mickky Pacheco and other gram sabha members created an uproar over the panchayat’s announcement in the church that no question will be taken up for discussion at the meeting in view of the model code of conduct.
When the meeting was called to order by Deputy Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes to transact the business, Mickky and other gram sabha members were on their feet demanding to know the provisions under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act barring members from taking up questions at the gram sabha when the model code of conduct is in force.
He demanded to know from the Panchayat Secretary Arjun Velip the provision under which the panchayat can write to the church that members will not be allowed to raise questions at the meeting because of the model code of conduct.
When the Panchayat Secretary sought to refer to the circular issued by the BDO office that no policy decisions could be taken by the gram sabhas when the model code of conduct is in force, Mickky shot back demanding that the Panchayat Secretary quote the relevant provisions in the Goa Panchayat Raj Act empowering the panchayat to take such a decision.
Heated arguments ensued between Mickky and the Panchayat Secretary even as other members also joined in to demand the provision under which the panchayat can bar members from raising questions at the meeting.
As the members were not ready to relent and the Panchayat Secretary unable to cite the relevant provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act barring members from raising questions at the gram sabha, it was finally decided to adjourn the meeting.
Mickky later told the media that the panchayat wanted to silence the Betalbatim villagers from taking up questions by taking the shelter of the model code of conduct. He said the villagers had planned to come for the gram sabha to question the panchayat over the decision to grant approval for a hotel project in the village, besides other issues. “Since they had no answer to the questions of the villagers, they tried to take shelter of the model code of conduct,” he alleged.
Deputy Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes, however, pointed out that the panchayat only wants to comply with the circular issued by the BDO office on the model code of conduct. On the hotel project, Anthony said the villagers are free to take it up with any authority and prove that the panchayat did not comply with rules.
