PORVORIM
The Guirim Panchayat has been functioning without a sarpanch for over 60 days and elections to the new sarpanch have already been postponed twice, prompting a panch to claim that delaying the election is a “mockery of democracy.”
According to Guirim panch Fondu Naik, former Guirim sarpanch Rima Gadekar had submitted her resignation to the Directorate of Panchayats (DoP) on July 6.
“According to the Panchayat Raj Act, Gadekar’s resignation takes effect after 10 days from the day the DoP receives the resignation.”
“The resignation letter was received by the DoP on July 6 and when Gadekar did not withdraw her registration till July 15, she was deemed to have resigned from the post with effect from July 16 and Deputy Sarpanch Babaji Gadekar began performing duties as acting sarpanch,” said Naik.
Naik said the DoP had convened the election on August 4, but the meeting was postponed as the ruling group could not finalise the candidate for the post of sarpanch, since the post is reserved for women.
“The DoP then scheduled the election on September 7, but panch members Gabriel Fernandes and Kalpesh Naik requested the director to postpone the election as they are not well.”
“Accordingly, the DoP issued a letter on September 6 informing members that the election had been postponed to a further date. This is nothing but a mockery of democracy.”
Fondu Naik said rules in force stipulate that the new sarpanch should be elected within 60 days from the resignation of a sarpanch.
“The panchayat is functioning without a sarpanch and it is unclear how long this situation will continue. The Director of Panchayats should immediately convene the next date to elect the sarpanch and should not allow further postponement under any circumstances,” he said.
