NCP: BJP leaders involved in Serula comunidade scam (Herald)

December 14, 2013 PANJIM: The Nationalist Congress Party on Friday alleged involvement of BJP leaders and office bearers in the Serula comunidade land allotment scam which it opined could run over Rs 35,000crore. It also reiterated its demand for setting up of commission headed by retired High Court Judge to investigate land allotments by the Serula comunidade for the last 25 years. “I won’t be surprised if tomorrow investigation reveals the names of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s kith and kin,” NCP spokesman told media persons. NCP alleged that the commission needs to be set up especially to check the 'fraudulent' land allotment to state tourism minister Dilip Parulekar. “He (Parulekar) is not the only BJP leader involved in the scam. Several former and present BJP MLAs and office bearers have purchased land for residential purposes and converted the same for commercial use,” he alleged. NCP, last week had slammed the cabinet decision to appoint officers on special duty (OSD) to comunidades as an attempt by the government ‘to take over and saffronize’ the village communities. Meanwhile, NCP has condemned BJP’s nationwide ‘unity run’ held to create awareness and spread information on Sardar Vallabhai Patel's monument 'Statue of Unity' stating that ‘the move is basically to raise funds for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections’. The NCP spokesman questioned as to why Narendra Modi, who has been Gujarat Chief Minister for past 10 years, never thought of spreading awareness about Patel all these years, alleging that this move is nothing but an attempt to fool people of Goa and to raise funds for Lok sabha polls in the name of Sardar Patel. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/NCP-BJP-leaders-involved-in-Serula-comunidade-scam/83163.html

OSDs for comunidades faces more opposition (Herald)

December 14, 2013 MARGAO: Saying that Communidades are private community bodies, which are not constituted under any government, the Goans for Goa has termed as “mala fide” the Cabinet decision to appoint Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to oversee and monitor the affairs of the Communidades. “The intention to appoint an OSD is not just an irregularity, but is done with malafide intention to interfere in the functioning of the sovereign bodies”, asserted FGF President Kennedy Afonso. He said there is absolutely no provision it the Code of Communidades for the appointment of an OSD. “In case of any irregularities, it is the administrator who has the authority to improvise and impose fines. Even the Collector has no authority to interfere in the workings of the Communidades”, he said, while urging the Communidades to be vigilant and has assured all support to the Communidades to put an united and joint effort, to bring the matter to its logical conclusion. Meanwhile, the GFG has urged the gram sabhas not to approve the Panchayat budget if the village development plan is not ready, as the constitution is very clear, that in the absence of a village plan, the budget cannot be approved. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/OSDs-for-comunidades-faces-more-opposition/83189.html

Comunidades in crisis (Edit-Herald)

09/12/2013 The in-principle Cabinet approval for amending the Code of Comunidades for appointing an officer on special duty to oversee and monitor the affairs of the Comunidades under the excuse of fraudulent functioning of the Serula Comunidade, is completely in breach of the contract of guardianship under Art 5 of the Code of Comunidades and Part III of the Preamble. It is in fact an admission of government failure in fulfilling its guardianship and contractual obligations. The comunidades are clearly private communitarian bodies –and their lands are perfect property—which are not constituted under any government legislation such as panchayats or municipalities and hence are not subjects of the government. Therefore legal experts view the intention to appoint an OSD as a complete irregularity with malafide intentions to interfere in the functioning of the sovereign bodies of first peoples that pre-date the State. The comunidades are merely under the administrative tutelage of the State according to the rules contained in the code and the state has to act as a guardian and work according to the practices and usages of the comunidades and not introduce laws which are alien to it. Firstly, all appointment to comunidades are to be made by following the qualifications and in a manner prescribed by the code, by the Governor—not the government. However, various governments have made illegal appointments through the collector who has no authority to interfere in comunidade functioning, legal experts contend. In case of any irregularities –financial or otherwise, it is the administrator who has to impose fines, do recovery or evict illegal occupants of comunidades property under Art 19 of the Code. There is no provision in the Code of Comunidades for appointment of an OSD. The accounts of the comunidades are to be audited by the administrative tribunal annually. Under the contractual obligations the government has to appoint staff to the AT, to the administrator of comunidades for conducting audit and staff to assist the escrivao. No such audits in the comunidades have been carried out for nearly 35 years, because the government failed to appoint auditors. ­Most of the previous Revenue Ministers and some MLAs have pushed for regularisation of illegal settlements of migrants on comunidade land, and comunidade members themselves have appropriated lands through devious means, trumping selfish personal interests over the interest of the community which was responsible for cultivating these lands, managing the village agrarian economy and wellbeing of the Goan heritage. All the powers purported to be given to the OSD rest with the administrator and s/he is totally empowered to inquire and lodge complaints, and even take the help of the police. Under no circumstances can the OSD take over the powers of the managing committee and if the committee indulges in irregularities, the administrator can take whatever actions is needed. It is true that administrators too have been used by politicians to get comunidade land for themselves and their kin. Therefore the irregularities argument cannot be used to justify government violation of contractual obligations which will finish the comunidades. The much maligned Portuguese administration had in its Legislative Diploma no 2070 dated 15th April 1961, admitted the various modifications and alterations had given birth to chaos in the comunidades. It had also admitted that the solutions adopted, meant the application of new principles which were entirely different, if not contrary to the spirit of the Code of 1933. The question is will this government have the grace to restrict itself to guardianship and fulfill its contractual obligations or will it finish the sacred institutions that have been Goa’s proud heritage. http://heraldgoa.in/newscategory/Edit/15

HC notice to Parulekar over comunidade land (ToI)

TNN | Oct 23, 2013, 02.16 AM IST PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday issued a notice to the tourism minister, Dilip Parulekar, and others on a public interest litigation challenging the process of regularization of the alleged encroachment by him on Serula comunidade land admeasuring 599 sq m at Alto Porvorim. The high court has also sought replies from the state government, comunidade of Serula and the administrator of Bardez comunidade. Social activist Aires Rodrigues, who filed the PIL, stated before the high court that the administrative tribunal was not empowered to pass the order of regularization of the land in survey number 376/6 at Alto Porvorim, along Chogm road in favour of Parulekar. Rodrigues also argued that last year the tribunal passed the order contrary to the provisions of Article 380 of the Code of Comunidade. Rodrigues has pointed out in the petition that as per Article 380, regularization is possible only in cases of lands which are valued at less than 1,800 escudos or Rs 300. While alleging that the value of the area encroached and sought for regularization is more than Rs 1 crore, Rodrigues said that the comunidade has mentioned the price as Rs 3,41,320. He alleged that the process of regularization, including the resolutions of the comunidade and the order of the administrative tribunal, are without jurisdiction. "The misuse and abuse of power and the orders that were passed entirely without jurisdiction and contrary to the provisions of the Code, has caused immense injury to a public institution like the comunidade, which is under the tutelage of the state under the Code, and has defrauded the comunidade of its prime land at a throw-away price, to the detriment of the communidade and its funds," Rodrigues has stated in the PIL. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/HC-notice-to-Parulekar-over-comunidade-land/articleshow/24559547.cms

'Govt-appointed panel doling out Serula land' (ToI)

TNN | Oct 22, 2013, 04.31 AM IST PANAJI: The managing committee of Serula comunidade, which was elected on January 20, 2013, is agitated over its non-functioning status, alleging that another government-appointed panel is resorting to illegal actions in doling out land to their favourites. The managing committee comprising president Antonio Lobo and attorney, Eurico Mascarenhas, amongst others, was elected to head one of the biggest comunidades in Goa with large tracts of land in Socorro, Salvador do Mundo, Penha da Franca, Ecoxim and part of Pomburpa. "Though, there were reports of cancellation of the polls on January 20, 2013, we went ahead with the process as per the code of comunidades," a gaunkar said. But another gaunkar, Cezar Pinto challenged the elections before the administrative tribunal, alleging that the poll had been held despite issuance of an order of cancellation. Administrative tribunal judge Ulhas B Pai Raikar dismissed the petition on September 25, 2013, though the election of the panel headed by Lobo was not nullified. The panel is agitated that the administrator of North Goa comunidades has not sworn-in the managing committee and allowed them to take charge. "A lot of illegalities have taken place at the temporary committee's behest, though it does not have the mandate to take any major decisions, and politicians have become beneficiaries of it. Some are even carrying on business in the allotted land," attorney Eurico Mascarenhas alleged. A delegation of the managing committee submitted a memorandum to the administrator of North Goa comunidades, Laura Britto, demanding that they be allowed to function after the dismissal of the election petition. "The administrator of comunidades did not administer the oath of office to our elected committee earlier, nor has the official done it now after the plea was dismissed," a gaunkar alleged. The other members are substitute president Elchier J Pinto do Rosario, substitute attorney Edgar Frias Pinto, treasurer Norman Albuquerque and substitute treasurer Cyriacus Agnelo Sanches. "If the administrator doesn't install our panel in office as per article 125 (2) and article 30 read with section 31 of the code of comunidades, we will initiate legal action against her," Mascarenhas told TOI. The administrator could not be contacted as Britto has been transferred. Maya Pednekar has taken charge, but was not in office and unavailable for comment. http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Times_of_India/

Gaonkars want governor not to endorse Land Bill (ToI)

TNN | Oct 13, 2013, 12.34 AM IST PANAJI: A section of gaonkars of comunidades are agitated over the government's proposal to regularize encroachments in comunidade lands through an amendment of the Goa Land (Prohibition Of Construction) Act, 1995, and have decided to petition the governor not to endorse the bill. "The encroachments have stood on comunidade lands all these years as the government deleted an existing clause allowing civil courts to hear cases of encroachment. It instead delegated the powers to administrators of comunidades of north, central and south zones and these political appointees failed to act on the encroachments," said Andre Pereira, general secretary, Association of Components of Comunidades. The government has proposed to regularize old encroachments on comunidade and government lands and initiate action to demolish new constructions, chief minister Manohar Parrikar informed the Goa assembly recently, while responding to leader of opposition Pratapsingh Rane's private members resolution urging immediate action against illegal constructions. Parrikar assured the House that efforts would be initiated to identify and maintain a record of government and comunidade lands, even as the demolition of new encroachments had started and 40 such had been razed. Former revenue minister, Jose Philip D'Souza had floated a proposal in 2001 to regularize all illegal structures on comunidade lands with a cut off period of June 14, 2001. But gaonkars, terming it an interference in their private affairs, had opposed the move. "Comunidades are private bodies and the government is only overseeing their administration and proper functioning as per the Code (of Comunidades)," said Luel Fernandes, a Chandor comunidade zonnkar. While the usual practice has been to discard old laws after Goa's liberation, the government accepted the Code of Comunidades and instead brought in manipulative amendments to interfere in their private business, point out the gaonkars. "The government should quote the law, under which regularization is being sought to be done, if it is under democratic principles," Fernandes told STOI. Concurring with him, Pereira said the government is attempting to regularize the encroachments through the 1995 Act. "The law is applicable or relevant to public authorities and those occupying public properties and not to private bodies like comunidades," he said. A bulk of the encroachments in Moti Dongor (Margao), Vasco, Vaddem, Sancoale, Mormugao (all in Mormugao taluka), Navelim (Bicholim) and other areas are in land designated under the law as reserve lands for cattle grazing, open spaces, harvesting grounds and other community uses. "In Cortalim and Verna, these lands were acquired for industrial uses, but in other places encroached heavily by others," said Pereira. The record of rights and documents maintained by the department of land records and survey now just show them as comunidade lands. They don't show the original land use, and those deriving the benefit have been deprived. The decay in the comunidade system worsened after the government amended the code of comunidades in October 1986. "The original Articles 371 and 372 in the code, providing the comunidades the power to file suits against encroachers and trespassers before the civil courts were deleted," explained Pereira. The petitions for removal of illegal structures were directed to the director of civil administration (collector), who in turn, delegated the powers to the administrator of comunidades. Pereira pointed out that the Supreme Court order that community lands cannot be allowed to remain encroached and trespassed by any person and the state should clear them has been ignored. tnn Times view The comunidade administration in Goa was an example for other states to follow, but today the politics of governance and selfish interests within the comunidades has brought disrepute to the institution of comunidades. The government must be protective of the spirit of comunidades instead of allowing the loss of their land through the proposed regularization of encroachments. Instead of playing to the galleries, the government should take a firm stand on illegalities and allow the land to remain for the communities. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Gaonkars-want-governor-not-to-endorse-Land-Bill/articleshow/24059404.cms

'BJP playing vote bank politics' (ToI)

TNN | Oct 13, 2013, 01.06 AM IST MARGAO: Reacting to the government's decision to implement the amended Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction) Act, 1995, which states that all old illegal structures on comunidade land would be regularized, Croydon Medeira, president of Collective People's Voice of South Goa, ridiculed the chief minister for attempting to take such a decision. "We warn the government against implementing such a decision and we will hit the streets if they do so. We will bring all like-minded people under one banner to oppose this move," said Medeira in a statement issued on Saturday. Medeira said this decision clearly implied a back door entry for the chief minister to save migrant encroachers on comunidade land, particularly those residing in Monte Hill, Sancoale and Zuari Nagar. He said this is a definite way to sabotage the efforts of the comunidade of Margao and Aquem to clear Monte Hill and Tolsanzor of illegal structures. He claimed the decision was taken in view of either the upcoming Lok Sabha elections or for the benefit of the BJP party at the next assembly election. "This attempt of the chief minister is at the cost of the Goan public and the lives of Goans," said Medeira. Medeira called it an irresponsible move at the cost of security of Goan lives and hoped that better sense prevailed. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/BJP-playing-vote-bank-politics/articleshow/24059825.cms

Law panel moots common law for comunidade polls (ToI)

Law panel moots common law for comunidade polls TNN | Aug 1, 2013, 12.49 AM IST PANAJI: The Goa law commission sought suggestions and opinion from the public in order to draft a common bill that will govern elections to both, comunidades and devasthans in Goa. Goa law commission chairman advocate Narendra Sawaikar told TOI that the procedures for election of the managing committees and the office bearers as provided in the code of comunidades and devasthan regulations are substantially similar. Sawaikar said, "The law commission feels that in the changed circumstances there is a need to have a relook at the said provisions and to enact a common legislation streamlining the election procedure to both the bodies which would be more suited to the changed times and circumstances." Elaborating, Sawaikar said that despite the similarities in the election procedures for the two bodies, the procedures are complicated. For example, election petitions regarding comunidades have to be filed before the district court or the administrative tribunal. Petitions regarding devasthans have to be filed before the mamlatdars. "Both the election procedure and the procedure for filing of election petitions should be streamlined and made common. Presently, hearing of the election petitions are pending for several years," Sawaikar said. Sawaikar said that the law commission intends to prepare a report on the subject and to submit a draft of the proposed legislation to the government for its consideration. The Goa law commission is also working on compiling translations of all Portuguese laws that are still being used in Goa. "After liberation, we have continued with many Portuguese laws like family laws, code of comunidades, etc. Though some of the laws have been translated by senior lawyers, today's young lawyers are finding it difficult to get refer to them at a single place. That is why, we will request the senior lawyers to give us copies of the translations so that we can preserve and store them for reference of younger lawyers at a single place," Sawaikar said. He also said that a committee of lawyers may be constituted to help in translating other Portuguese laws and compiling them for the Goa law commission. Some of these include the Devasthan Regulations 1949, Divorce Act 1950, Civil Registration Regulations, 1950 and regulations regarding succession of properties. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Law-panel-moots-common-law-for-comunidade-polls/articleshow/21517103.cms

Govt constitutes panel to study comunidades-ToI

Govt constitutes panel to study comunidades TNN | Apr 8, 2013, 12.16 AM IST PANAJI: The state government has constituted a five-member comunidade commission headed by the revenue minister to study and suggest measures for revitalizing the age-old bodies, and also to fix responsibility for irregularities by administration offices. The panel has been formed under Article 652 of the code of communidade and an order passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, in connection with a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The panel will study the functioning and organization of the administration offices and evolve ways to streamline comunidades. Non-functional bodies will be identified for possible liquidation or merger as per the law. Goa has a total of 223 comunidade bodies in north and south Goa, but many have ceased to function. As the comunidade bodies have been involved in irregularities, the panel will also fix accountability for the illegal and irregular acts committed by the administration offices over the years. While the revenue minister will act as the convener, Antonio Bonifilio Branganza will serve as co-ordinator, and Augusto Monterio, Savio Correira and Tulio D'souza as members, with M S Usgaonkar and Egipsio Noronha Rodrigues as advisors. The commission will have to submit its final report to the government within a period of one year of its first meeting. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Govt-constitutes-panel-to-study-comunidades/articleshow/19434459.cms

Govt to form comunidade commission -ToI

TNN | Feb 17, 2013, 02.14 AM IST PANAJI: Deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza, who also holds the revenue portfolio, confirmed that a decision for constituting a comunidade commission has been taken. The commission will look into various aspects of the comunidades. "The commission will study various aspects of communidades and submit a report within a certain time framework," he said. Some communidade bodies had gone to the high court demanding that a commission exclusively for comunidades be constituted. The petition was disposed off after government decided to constitute a commission and accordingly informed the high court. One of the important demands by the comunidade bodies was that comunidade code must be translated in English. The deputy chief minister said it has already been translated and also been notified. A senior high court lawyer M S Usgaonkar has translated the comunidade code. D'Souza said issues of comunidades, which have remained unaddressed for too long need to be addressed, and he has had consultation with them. The name of Francis Braganza, an advocate, has been finalized for the post of commissioner. The commission will have two-three members in addition to two advisors on the board. The commission would handle an assortment of issues plaguing comunidades. Most important being encroachment on comunidade lands, acquisitions by government, matters relating to its properties at prime locations. Some comunidade buildings are located at prime places in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa. Yet, comunidade administration has not been able to sustain itself and have to rely on government for funding. There are also disputes among comunidades that need to be resolved. The commission would be a forum that will address those issues. Another contentious issue is about procedures relating to appointment of staff and their salary structure. "There are constant complaints from comunidade staff about salaries not being paid on time," said an officer in the deputy chief minister's office. Also, election in communidades have also been a source of controversy with allegation of irregularities in elections. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Govt-to-form-comunidade-commission/articleshow/18536456.cms

Serula Gaunkars elect new panel -Herald

January 22, 2013 PORVORIM: Defying order of the North Goa collector to postpone the elections, the Gaunkars of Serula Comunidade elected their new managing committee on Sunday. The Gaunkars of the Serula Comunidade had gone to the Gadge Maharaj hall at Porvorim and found the doors of the hall closed and a notice by Collector R Mihir Vardan displayed on the door. The notice stated that he has postponed the elections of Serula Comunidade as there were allegations about serious anomalies in the records maintained in the comunidade and other irregularities. Terming collector’s order as a “violation of the Code of Comunidades”, the Gaunkars went ahead and elected their new managing committee in defiance of the order of the collector. A senior Gaunkar, Edgar Pinto, presided over the meeting in the absence of any members of the outgoing managing committee. The Gaunkars unanimously elected the new managing committee at the end of the meeting, after inviting nominations, by show of hands. The Gaunkars elected on the new managing committee are Antonio Lobo (president), Eurico Mascarenhas (attorney), Norman Albuquerque (treasurer), Melchier Pinto do Rosario (substitute president), Edgar Pinto (substitute attorney) and Cyrus Sanches (substitute treasurer). In a press note, Gaunkar, Sigmund de Souza, stated that if there were any complaints about irregularities in the Serula Comunidade, it should have been dealt in accordance with and within the time limit set by the Code of Comunidades. “There is no provision in the Code to cancel elections once notified by the Administrator. The Gaunkars also voted that all shares that were not transmitted by succession/inheritance should be declared void ab initio,” states the press note. “This resolution was necessary due to the entry of non-Goans and other persons who were detrimental to the interest of the Serula Comunidade through the shareholders list,” added the press note. The Gaunkars also resolved to cancel the membership and Zonno of three persons, whom they said were not Gaunkars of their Comunidade and had entered their names in the Gaunkars’ register by fraud, adds the press note. The newly elected managing committee will meet Governor and Administrator of Comunidades of North Goa to request them to accept the democratically elected choice of the Gaunkars, failing which they will be forced to seek legal action. http://heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Serula-Gaunkars-elect-new-panel/69753.html

Communidade Controversy -Herald

Communidade Controversy Sunday’s move by the gaunkars of the Serula Communidade ~ going ahead and conducting elections to elect a managing committee in violation of the Collector’s order ~ will only provide the government the opportunity to interfere in the functioning of this centuries old institution. The nature of response of the agitated gaunkars was on expected lines and the outcome of their action too is now predictable ~ the authorities will probably term the so-called elected body illegal, compelling the newly elected committee to approach the courts, which would eventually most likely end with the appointment of an administrator. This is all too often seen and repeated, so much so that in spite of past experience, leaders of communidades have failed to come up with effective alternatives to counter “interference” from non-communidade power centers. So, what were the motivating factors for the Collector to instruct that scheduled elections not be held? Whatever they may have been, it is clear that the communidade code offers no such provision, unless, of course, there is a major calamity. The directions were notified to the office of the communidade reportedly at the eleventh hour, which means there was no way to communicate the decision to voters. This sequence of events has, in fact, often been a ploy adopted by politicians of various hues seeking to corner control of communidades. In the case of Serula, the suspicions being voiced is that two legislators are reportedly seeking to hold sway in the management of the communidade. Cancellation, even postponing elections, actually offers these politicians more time for manipulation. We would not be surprised if allegations of "horse-trading" of pliable gaunkars besides including of ineligible "half-gaunkars" in the voting list follow. Serula Communidade is one of the richest in the State. And this is precisely why politicians are eying it. This is not to say that managements of communidades ostensibly devoid of political interference have no shortcomings. Far from it. There have been instances where gaunkars who profess to swear by all things Goan have been responsible for selling communidades land to the highest bidder. The manner in which so-called Goans have sold Goa on a platter and cornered prime plots, even abused their political clout to illegally launch business enterprises on prime communidade land makes for a sorry tale. There have been instances too of how members in management committees scout for investors willing to come up with institutional projects so they can dish out large tracts of land with the sole objective of payoffs to be shared down the line. The story is akin to the 1980s and 90s when industrialists were welcomed to set up shop in Goa and communidade land dished off to industrial projects with government virtually playing land broker. Over the years, communidades have emerged as a milch cow for both the managing committee members as well as politicians. Even honest members who are projected as presidents usually end up succumbing to the "pressure" exerted by fellow members. In bygone years, it had been an avenue to reap vote banks ~ wherein the immigrant labour force was given false hope of free plots for housing, but these shanties were demolished once elections were over, leaving them homeless and devastated. Goans who applied for plots of land were routinely denied plots which were usually awarded to the highest bidder. The greater tragedy is the inability of governing councils to examine ways and means to augment revenue for this age-old institution and ensure that the beneficiaries are gaunkars. http://heraldgoa.in/newscategory/Edit/15

Minister's kin eyes Serula comunidade, poll deferred again - ToI

TNN | Jan 20, 2013, 02.49 AM IST MAPUSA: The government, at the last moment, has cancelled the election to Serulacomunidade scheduled for Sunday even as it will conduct polls of other comunidade bodies. Gaunkars and share holders who were readying to cast their vote on Sunday were left disappointed as the election has been deferred once again. In the past, senior politicians have shown interest in Serula comunidade polls for obvious reasons. And sources say, this time, it is no different and that is perhaps, one of the reasons why the elections have been deferred. Sources said that a minister's brother has taken keen interest in the poll and is attempting to control the comunidade. On the Porvorim plateau itself, several commercial establishments including some along Chogm road are in comunidade land. A gaunkar said that an influential person who was allotted a small space is running a construction material business on the site. While Congress leader Dayanand Narvekar and others used to take control of the comunidade in the past, now politicians of the ruling party, notwithstanding their statements to keep politics out of such organizations, are busy to wrest control of the body, sources said. Addressing a press conference in Mapusa on Saturday, the gaunkars of the Serula comunidade informed that the election was initially to be held on December 2, which was postponed to December 20 by the administrator. Later, the elections were fixed for January 20. It is now postponed with no fresh date given for the elections. "The order was issued on Thursday by the administrator that the elections will be held on January 20. On Friday, a fresh order was issued stating the elections are postponed without explaining any reasons for the postponement," said Joseph Pinto, who is contesting the election for the first time. "There is a fear and anxiety in the minds of the gaunkars of the Serula comunidade as to why the officials are playing hide-and-seek in holding the election. The chief minster should intervene and resolve the issues," Pinto said. "We want the elections to be held peacefully as per the Code of the comunidades. We heard that some are recontesting the elections but as per the code's Article 50, sitting representative cannot contest the election again," said Denis D'Souza, a gaunkar. "We want transparent elections to be held. Our main contention is why the delay in holding the elections. Reasons should be explained, and we want the elections to be held via secret ballot paper and not through the show of hands," D'Souza said. Serula comunidade comprises the villages of Socorro, Salvador do Mundo, Penha da Franca and Ecoxim part of Pomburpa. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Ministers-kin-eyes-Serula-comunidade-poll-deferred-again/articleshow/18095533.cms

Postponement of polls angers Serula gaonkars - Herald

January 20, 2013 PORVORIM: The government’s decision to postpone elections to the Serula Commundade, which were scheduled for January 20, has angered many gaonkars of the communidade. Addressing a press conference at Guirim on Saturday, Joseph Pinto stated that the collector had issued the order on Friday stating that the Serula Communidade election to be held on Sunday had been cancelled, but had not assigned any reason. “This is the second time the government has postponed the election, after elections were earlier scheduled on December 2, 2012. The state government is playing with the sentiments of the Gaonkars,” said Pinto. He also criticised the government for planning to conduct elections by a raise of hands. “There are about 6,000 gaonkars and 500 shareholders. It is not possible to count the hands. We strongly oppose the conduct of election by a raise of hands and we insisted that election must be held by a secret ballot,” he added. Another gaonkar, Dennis D’Souza, added, “The collector should also give reasons for delaying the elections. The communidade belong to the gaonkars and let gaonkars handle the affairs of the communidade. The government should not interfere in it,” said D’Souza. When contacted, the Administrator of Serula Communidade Irene Sequeira explained that the election had been cancelled because of a court matter. The collector will announce a fresh date for the election as soon as the court matter is resolved,” said Sequeira. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Postponement-of-polls-angers-Serula-gaonkars/69666.html