MARGAO
Mystery shrouds the disappearance of a Mundkarial case file from the office of the Salcete Mamlatdar as the Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai has knocked the doors of the police to trace the missing file.
Even as the Fatorda police have registered a FIR against unknown persons based on the complaint lodged by the Salcete Mamlatdar, questions are being raised in the corridors of the Matanhy Saldanha complex how the file has gone missing from the record books.
The missing file came to light after the Mamlatdar office received an application under RTI in December 2021 from John Francis D’Silva, resident of Gogol Housing Board, Margao requesting for certified copies of entire file Case No. JM- I/Mund/Reg/Ben/629/78 which file pertains to Joint Mamlatdar-I of Salcete Taluka. The records, however, could not be traced in the office.
The applicant filed an appeal before the First Appellate Authority, Deputy Collector, Margao dated January, 2022. The Mamlatdar, who is the PIO under the RTI Act again submitted that the file could not be traced.
The First Appellate Authority, Deputy Collector, SDO vide order dated 27/04/2022 issued order directed to the Mamlatdar office to file FIR in the case of the missing file after following the office procedure.
Left with no option, the applicant John D’Silva filed an appeal before the Goa State Information Commission, Panaji on June, 2022 wherein Goa State Information Commission, Panaji fixed the date of hearing on July 5, 2022. Accordingly, the Mamlatdar office filed a reply informing that as per the Joint Mamlatdar-1, Salcete, the file bearing Case No. JM-I/Mund/Reg/Ben/629/78 is not available in the court of Joint Mamlatdar-I of Salcete as per inventory list and upon physical verification of all records.
On November 11, 2022, the Goa State Information Commission, Panaji directed the PIO to search the concerned record and if found, furnish the information to the Applicant within 20 days from the receipt of the order and if not found further directed the PIO to file FIR as regards to the missing file.
In his police complaint, the Mamlatdar stated the case bearing No. JM-I/Mund/Reg/Ben/629/78 was given to all the court clerks of Mamlatdar to Joint Mamlatdar-VII to search the concerned file. He, however, stated his office received a reply that the file is not available in the court.
