MAPUSA
Coming under the High Court scanner for failure to renew lease agreements of shops/stalls in the municipal market, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Monday unanimously decided to refer the renewal of lease agreement of 195 stalls/shops/kiosks in the Mapusa municipal market to the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA).
Similarly, the council also decided to refer the transfer of 12 stalls/shops/kiosks under blood relations to the DMA.
There was absolutely no discussion held when the issue of renewal of lease agreement of shops was brought up at the special council meeting.
The councillors also did not hold any discussion on the issue of transfer of 12 stalls/shops/kiosks under blood relation in the municipal market and decided to refer the matter to the DMA.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa had recently issued notice to the Mapusa Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar directing him to file reply within two weeks in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) where the petitioner, Jawaharlal Shetye, had alleged that the civic body refused to take action against sub-letting of municipal properties in the market.
The petitioner also contended that the municipal officials have refused to take action against lessees who continued to remain in possession of the property beyond three years of the lease period without renewing the agreement.
Shetye had also contended that the civic officials refused to take action against the transfer of municipal immovable properties to blood relations in violation of provisions of Goa Municipality Act.
The High Court had also directed the Director of Municipal Administration to enquire into all the allegations made in the petition and file an affidavit.
The High Court will hear the matter on February 22.
On Sunday, the Mapusa Merchant’s Association (MMA) in an extraordinary meeting decided to approach Urban Development Minister Viswajeet Rane and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza to seek legislative cure on the issue of sub-letting of leases to safeguard the interest of shop/stall owners in the State.
