With no election dates set, Anjuna panchas move HC

the goan I networkrMAPUSA rFinding the government dragging its feet to fix a date for the election of the sarpanch and deputy, a group of seven elected panch members of Anjuna Panchayat on Tuesday knocked the doors of the High Court. rThe matter will come up for hearing and interim directions, if any, on Wednesday morning. rFiling the petition, the group of seven led by former sarpanch, Savio Almeida has prayed a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ directing the Director of Panchayats to forthwith fix a date for holding of first meeting of the elected members of Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat in order to elect the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of the village. rFurther, the plea also seeks specific direction to the appointed Presiding Officer to be present in the panchayat office on the specific date and time to hold the meeting and to conduct the election to the two posts. rBesides former sarpanch, Savio Almeida, the petition has also been signed by Lavinio Rebello, Pratima rGoverkar, Devanand Shirodkar, Pedro Mendonca, Sheetal Naik and Sandesh Khorjuvekar. rThe Director of Panchayats, Block Development Officer, Anjuna Panchayat and the two Presiding Officers who were deputed to conduct the election on July 8 “ Krishna Gadekar and Sandesh Naik have been made respondents in the case. rOn Monday, the same group of seven members had submitted a memorandum to the Director of Panchayats, Sandhya Kamat requesting her to immediately hold the election to the sarpanch and the deputy preferably by Tuesday. rThe reserved Presiding Officer who was dispatched by the BDO reached the panchayat premises 20 minutes late and later based on the objection raised by four opposition members, who were in minority, adjourned the meeting. rElections of sarpanch and the deputy to all the other 14 panchayats held on July 8 passed off peacefully. rIncidentally, the local MLA and Water Resources Minister, Vinod Palyekar could not manage to form his group in Anjuna Panchayat and the group of seven who claim to have the majority have extended support to former sarpanch, Savio Almeida.