Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government on Monday informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it has decided to merge the cadres of gram sevak and panchayat secretary into a single post. The unified position will be designated either as Gram Sachiv or Panchayat Sachiv, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the court.
In March this year, the High Court had directed the State to streamline the cadre structure within four weeks, noting that several panchayats were facing an acute shortage of secretaries. Pangam had then assured the Bench that the government had initiated steps to resolve the issue through merger or re-designation.
Following the State’s latest submission, the High Court disposed of the petition. Pangam later told reporters that the process of implementing the merger may take around three months.
The Advocate General had earlier informed the court that 20 secretary posts are lying vacant and that several highly qualified persons are currently serving in the Gram Sevak cadre. The petitioner in the case had argued that Gram Sevaks were being appointed illegally to perform the duties of secretaries, pointing to at least 26 such instances.
