'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/