MAPUSA
The village panchayat secretary of Arpora-Nagoa was suspended for negligence, dishonesty and for acting in manner unbecoming of a government servant by failing to issue construction licence to a residential unit.
Director of Panchayats Rajan Satardekar placed Arpora-Nagoa secretary Rui Cardozo under suspension with immediate effect pending disciplinary proceedings against him.
“The secretary has tried to falsely create improper justification to defend his illegal act of denial of construction licence to a residential house of the complainant which a citizen of the country is lawfully entitled to get within time limit specified for delivery of public services in citizens charter,” Satardekar said in his damning order against Cardozo.
The order said Cardozo had failed to execute powers and functions of the secretary and was negligent while performing his official duties and to maintain integrity.
“In spite of clear and specific directions from Additional Director of Panchayats, the secretary has failed to issue construction licence to the complainant. This act of the secretary amounted to wilful disobedience of order of higher authority,” Satardekar said.
Until the order remains in force, the secretary has been directed to report to the office of Block Development Officer, Bardez, in Mapusa.
The issue dates back to October 16, 2017 when the complainant, Rose de Souza applied for construction of a residential unit in her own property in Arpora.
Finding that all her effort to obtain the construction licence was stonewalled by the local panchayat and some politicians, the complainant filed an appeal before the deputy director of panchayats.
The deputy director of panchayats passed an order on February 2, 2018, directing the secretary to issue the construction license within two weeks from the date of the order.
But in spite of the order, the complainant found that the panchayat used several ingenious ways to delay the construction licence.
With no relief coming, the complainant approached the High Court vide a writ petition which was disposed of in favour of the complainant, with directions to the Director of Panchayats.
The Additional Director of Panchayats then dismissed a petition of the Arpora panchayat on the issue on August 21, 2018, directing the secretary to issue the construction licence within one week of the order.
But once again, the secretary and the panchayat body tried to dilly dally and failed to issue the complainant the licence.
