the goan I network
PORVORIM
Panchayats are expected to exercise due diligence while issuing construction licences, but the Socorro panchayat has found itself in an awkward situation.
Believe it or not, the Socorro panchayat has issued
a construction licence in
the name of a deceased person.
According to reports, the Serula comunidade had given temporary possession of a Plot 33 in Survey 5/1 to Ravindra Naik of Revora in March 2008.
Since Naik could not construct the house within four years, he was granted a further extension till March 2015.
Naik then sought a further extension from the administrator of comunidades of North Goa.
In reply, the office of the collector of North Goa denied the permission on November 22, 2016.
Accordingly, the Serula comunidade of Serula, in its general body meeting on January 22, 2017, decided unanimously to vacate the plot.
Naik subsequently expired on October 23, 2017 and a death certificate was also issued by office of the Revora panchayat.
The Serula comunidade then wrote a letter to the Socorro panchayat on June 24 this year, which was acknowledged by the panchayat on June 25, informing the panchayat that Naik had expired on October 23, 2017 and that, the
Plot 33 was now in possession of the Serula comunidade.
Despite being made aware that Naik had expired, the Socorro Panchayat issued a construction licence in the name of Naik on July 17.
On learning that the Socorro panchayat had issued a construction licence in the name of the deceased, the Serula comunidade wrote to the Socorro panchayat on August 26, demanding the withdrawal of construction license issued to Naik.
Since there was no reply from the Socorro panchayat, the Serula communidade despatched a reminder on September 18, requesting the panchayat to withdraw the construction licence, failing which it threatened to initiate criminal and civil proceedings against the panchayat.
