Only 3% cases against panchayat officials registered by vigilance dept in 5 years

Panaji: Around 200 cases have been filed before the vigilance department against panchayat secretaries, staff, panch, sarpanch, or staff of the panchayat department in the last five years, but only 3% of cases were registered.

However, the majority of cases were closed.A total of 696 vigilance complaints are pending, including complaints against section gazetted and section non-gazetted staff since 2023. Similarly, 17 cases are pending for disciplinary proceedings and 5 cases before the anti-corruption branch.The cases filed against the panchayat secretaries, staff, panch, sarpanch, or staff of the directorate of panchayats include issuing illegal no objection certificates (NOCs), illegal construction of a panchayat ghar, issuing illegal NOCs for electricity connections, allowing a hotel to run even after a court order to seal it, supporting illegal activities in the village, and misusing public funds, among others.

The vigilance department registered only six cases against panchayat secretaries, staff, panch, sarpanch, or staff of the directorate of panchayats in the last five years.Chief minister Pramod Sawant said, in general, a preliminary inquiry into a complaint should be completed within a period of 90 days; however, the actual time required in any case may vary depending on the complexity of the case.As regards investigations by the anti corruption branch, the time limit is as per the provisions of the relevant criminal laws in force.

Sawant said that, in many of the complaints, the role of officers of multiple public authorities is involved; hence, seeking the presence of officers from different authorities for recording their statements, calling for records or documents from multiple departments, scrutiny of records, verification of the authenticity of the complaint and the allegations made, and further conducting the inquiry, entail substantial time.“Hence, delay in disposal of pending cases, especially considering the fact that a large number of complaints against different public functionaries is received. In certain cases, appeals and writ petitions are filed before the appellate authorities or high court, causing further delay in disposal of cases,” the CM said.Recently, the directorate of panchayats disqualified Roshan Redkar as the sarpanch of Arpora–Nagoa panchayat and disallowed him from being elected or holding any post in a panchayat for a period of five years.The directorate also dismissed panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar from service. Both were found to have committed lapses that led to irregularities causing the death of 25 persons in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Arpora on the night of Dec 6.