‘Inquire into allegations of Majorda panchayat funds misuse’

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa has called on the director of panchayats to look into grievances highlighted by a panch member of Majorda-Utorda-Calata over the alleged misuse of panchayat funds.
The high court asked the director to treat the petition filed by panch member Sharlet Fernandes as a representation and take the matter to its logical conclusion within three weeks.
Fernandes, represented by advocate Shane Gomes Pereira, submitted to the high court that despite repeatedly making representations, the director of panchayats is not looking into complaints alleging misuse of funds.
The first complaint was made in June 2023 to the director of panchayats under Section 177 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994, followed by another complaint in Sep 2023 against the secretary of the panchayat with allegations of illegalities.
In her petition, she submitted that since 2023, the panchayat secretary, in collusion with the sarpanch, has been refusing to furnish or permit her to go through the files which are to be placed before the panchayat body for fortnightly meetings and are not giving her the details of business to be transacted at the meetings.
She submitted that, at present, resolutions are being passed without any discussion or any questions being raised.
Fernandes is seeking directions to permit her to inspect files which are under discussion at the meeting as per the agenda prior to meetings, and directions to the director of panchayats and block development officer to initiate action against the secretary for dereliction of duty, and direction to the panchayat to install a functional CCTV system in the panchayat.