CM Pramod Sawant, along with the Revenue Minister and the Collectors of the three districts, has launched ‘Goa Special Courts’, to function every Saturday and focus on revenue cases and the Mhaje Ghar initiative. While welcome, questions remain over their effectiveness, given repeated Government directives to expedite pending cases. In 2021, Order No. 11/11/2020-RD (Part I)/2327, dated August 27, directed Mamlatdars to dispose of pending mundkar and tenancy cases within a year and hold special Saturday revenue courts. Supervisory officers were also instructed to assess subordinate officers through APARs based on case disposal. Five years later, these directions remain largely on paper. Has any Mamlatdar faced adverse remarks for non-compliance? Supervisory officers, from Deputy Collectors to the Revenue Secretary, have seemingly ignored the delays. The new courts must ensure accountability and timely justice, rather than become old wine in a new bottle or facilitate dubious tenancy claims over pristine lands.
Sadanand Raikar, Colva
