Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has expressed strong displeasure over delays by municipal councils and village panchayats in carrying out its directions on stray dog enumeration and management, cautioning that officials who fail to comply could face disciplinary consequences and contempt action.
During a hearing on Monday in a suo motu public interest litigation, a Division Bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S Jamsandekar questioned the lack of progress by several local authorities despite earlier instructions from the court.
The Bench warned municipal chief officers and panchayat secretaries that further delays would not be tolerated. It also raised the possibility of adverse entries being made in the service records of officials found responsible for non-compliance.
The court noted that several local bodies had failed to submit affidavits and supporting documents confirming the publication of public notices, as required under its October 6 directions. The submissions were expected within the deadline fixed by the court.
During the proceedings, it was pointed out that only a handful of municipal councils had initially submitted affidavits confirming compliance. The Bench clarified that departmental action against erring officials could proceed independently of any contempt proceedings initiated by the court under the Contempt of Courts Act.
The hearing also covered the proposed animal shelter at Curca, which is being planned by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). The court was informed that the Town and Country Planning Department had issued technical clearance for the project on October 15, following which the construction licence application was submitted to the Curca-Bambolim-Talaulim panchayat the next day.
With the panchayat secretary absent during the hearing, the Bench directed the local body to take up the licence proposal without delay. The application must be considered either at the next regular meeting or at a special meeting to be held within the week.
