PANAJI
Despite repeated warnings and directions from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, eight village panchayats (VPs) failed to submit compliance reports on stray dog management, prompting the judiciary to order immediate disciplinary action against the defaulting VP secretaries.
Taking a stern view of the continued non-compliance, the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar directed the Director of Panchayats (DoP) to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the erring secretaries under the applicable service rules. The Bench, in its ongoing hearing on Wednesday, also granted them a final extension of one week, directing them to submit their reports to the Department of Animal Husbandry by November 16.
The Bench took up the issue while monitoring compliance with its September 1 order on stray dog management. Pursuant to its October 26 directions mandating all village panchayats to comply with the original order, the Amicus Curiae informed the Bench that eight panchayats out of 107-odd had still failed to submit their reports.
“The continued default held up the Department of Animal Husbandry's assessment of the compliance and preparation of an action plan for setting up animal shelters across the State,” the advocate stated.
In view of the pending reports, the court extended the deadline for the department to submit its action plan to December 1.
The latest directions follow the Bench's October 26 observations of “clear remissness” on the part of local bodies, including the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), in complying with its orders and filing affidavits despite repeated opportunities.
On that occasion, the court had directed the DoP and the Directorate of Municipal Administration to initiate disciplinary action against officials who repeatedly failed to comply. It also warned that departmental proceedings would not preclude separate contempt action by the court.
CCP directed to fast-track Curca shelter
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa took note of an affidavit filed by a local VP, stating that it had granted a construction licence to the CCP to set up an animal shelter on survey numbers 73/1 and 73/2A in Curca village.
The Bench directed the CCP Commissioner to obtain all necessary administrative, financial and other approvals, preferably within 10 days of this order.
Expressing the expectation that construction would begin before the next hearing, the court directed the Commissioner to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken and progress made on the project.
The Bench clarified that its directions would not prejudice the contentions of any of the parties, which remain open. The matter will be heard next on December 8.
