MAPUSA
While the Calangute sarpanch and locals differed over the way to conduct a special gram sabha on Independence Day, senior officials in the block development office believe that there is no clarity on the how a special gram sabha has to be conducted.
Calangute villagers, however, said that as per the Panchayat Raj Act the right to conduct a gram sabha rests with the people and no one can suppress it.
“Since there are no rules laid on how to conduct a special gram sabha, there is a little grey area on that subject,” a senior official at the BDO told The Goan.
Special gram sabha meetings are held on August 15, October 2, December 19 and January 26. Besides, extraordinary gram sabhas are also conducted by panchayats.
On the controversy of avoiding the special gram sabha meeting on August 15, Sarpanch Shawn Martins said after flag hoisting the agenda of the special gram sabha was Independence Day celebration.
“After the flag hoisting and singing of patriotic songs, some of us also spoke. We also distributed sports shoes to students and saplings to all members of the gram sabha,” Martins said.
The sarpanch also informed that he clarified with the BDO who had said that it was not normal business at the special gram sabha, but any allied activities supporting the Independence Day function.
A villager, Premanand Divkar said that as per the Panchayat Raj Act it was not mentioned how a special gram sabha has to be conducted.
“But for that matter, the Act is silent on how to conduct even a normal gram sabha though it gives a definition of the gram sabha. Similarly, the Act does not say anything about agenda for gram sabha or special gram sabha,” Divkar said.
He said as per the 73rd Constitutional amendment and the Goa Panchayat Raj Act no one can suppress the right of the people.
“The right to conduct a gram sabha is given to the people. In Calangute there was a practice to hold a small meeting after the flag hoisting. This practice was followed for last so many years and it has to be carried on,” he added.
