MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s interaction with revenue officials right down the level of taluka Mamlatdars and Joint Mamlatdars might have underscored the need for quick disposal of mundkarial, tenancy, mutation and other revenue matters.
Against the backdrop of the storm kicking up over the controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, the Chief Minister’s interactive session with the Mamlatdars, Joint Mamlatdars, Deputy Collector’s and district Collectors on August 12 last assumed significance after the Chief Minister expressed concern over the inordinate and unending delays in the disposal of the cases, especially tenancy and mundkarial.
The ground reality in Salcete hasn’t improved after the Chief Minister’s diktat to officials in the disposal of cases. In fact, the situation must have gone from bad to worse in the last 10 days for want of adequate number of Joint Mamlatdars to hear these cases. And, with the 2022 Assembly election preparedness underway, the Mamlatdar and the Jt Mamlatdars are busy occupied with the election work, leaving them with no option than to adjourn the cases.
Take the case of Salcete taluka Mamlatdar courts. Before the Chief Minister’s diktat to expedite the mudkarial and tenancy cases, three Jt Mamlatdars were holding charges for seven Jt Mamlatdars in Salcete. After the CM’s review meeting, each of the two Jt Mamlatdars are presently holding additional charge for three Jt Mamlatdars after a Jt Mamlatdar proceeded on leave.
Salcete Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar is holding additional charge for a Jt Mamlatdar indicating that adjournment of cases is literally the order of the day in the Salcete mamlatdar courts.
While conceding that quick disposal of pending tenancy and mundkarial cases is the need of the hour, an official told The Goan that the government should provide the bare logistics in the form of manpower to conduct the proceedings. “For some time now, only three Jt Mamlatdars were holding the charge of seven Jt Mamlatdars in Salcete. Now, with one Jt Mamlatdar proceeding on leave, the remaining two Jt Mamlatdars are holding charge of three Jt Mamlatdars each with the Mamlatdar holding charge for the remaining one Jt Mamlatdar,” the official informed.
He added: “Unless the government fills up the vacant posts of Jt Mamlatdars, adjournments will continue to be the order of the day for the simple reason that one Judge cannot preside over two or three courts at the same time.”
With the 2022 Assembly election just six months away, election preparedness is underway with training and demos for the officials, right at the level of Booth Level Officers. “Today, we could not hear the cases for the reason that all officials were busy with an election demo. The situation will remain the same tomorrow, as the election officials will hold a programme for the Jt Mamlatdars as part of election preparedness. Resultantly, all the cases scheduled for hearing on Wednesday will be adjourned,” the official added.
