They will be barred from Sarpanch and Dy Sarpanch polls
File photo of the four Rumdamol panchayat members celebrating their victories in the 2022 Panchayat election.
MARGAO
In a major development that would have ramification on the status of the nine-member Rumdamol panchayat body, four members of the Village Panchayat have been disqualified by the Salcete Block Development officer on Monday.
The ruling implies that the five-member group, which has been ruling the Rumdamol panchayat since the 2022 election, has been reduced to just one member in the 9-member Panchayat body following the disqualification of outgoing Sarpanch Mubina Faniband and her husbnd Samiulla Faniband, ex-Dy. Sarpanch Mohammed Mustafa Dodamani and member Zubeda Agasar from participation of any executive work of the Panchayat body.
The BDO has directed the Rumdamol Panchayat secretary to implement the order with immediate effect, indicating that the four members will be barred from participating in the election for the post of Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch pending since the last two months.
The disqualification order further implies that the opposition four-member group will have a free run in the nine-member panchayat as and when elections are held for the post of Sarpanch and deputy Sarpanch.
Allowing an Application under Section 12(1)(D); Section 12(2) and Section 55(4) of The Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 filed by Mukesh Eknath Naik, a resident of Khandepar-Usgao, Ponda, Salcete BDO-II Adarsh J Desai passed an order disqualifying the four members from participation in any executive work of the Panchayat with immediate effect.
Mukesh Eknath Naik had filed a complaint before the Rumdamol Panchayat against some residents of Rumdamol village, some of them related to the four panchayat members.
In his compliant dated January 15, 2024 filed before the Panchayat body, Mukesh had complained against Azad Faniband (who is the father-in-law/father of the panchayat members, the husband/ wife duo of Mubina and Samuilla Faniband, against Mehboob Dodmani (who is the father of panchayat member Mohammed Mustafa Dodmani); and a complaint against the father of member Zubeda Bi Abubakar Agasar and others for illegal constructions allegedly carried out in the village.
He stated that his complaint had come up for discussion at the Panchayat Ordinary Meeting held on January 18, 2024, wherein the four Panchayat members were also present and participated in discussion.
He contended that since the four Panchayat members had interests in the properties, they did not initiate any steps or action against the illegal acts done by their family members.
Saying the four Panchayat members had participated in the January 18, 2024 Ordinary meeting, which had passed Resolutions No. 3(2)1-4, Mukesh further contended that the four members have a direct pecuniary interest monetary/personal/other interest in the resolution being passed at the above meeting there by attracting disqualification.
In their written submission before the BDO, the four Panchayat members had contended that the Court doesn't have any jurisdiction to entertain such application filed by the complainant.
