Adv. Aires Rodrigues has accused Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of seeking to grab more land and this time a plot of land bearing Survey No. 60/8 in Cotombi, Bicholim by claiming to be a Mundkar.
Adv. Rodrigues stated that it has been shockingly revealed in the information obtained by him under the Right to Information Act that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who is popularly known as Mr. Property Sawant filed an application before the Mamlatdar of Bicholim on 26th September this year which was promptly registered as Case No. MND/DECL/COTOMBI/2019 seeking declaration as Mundkar under Section 8A of the Goa Mundkar Act 1975 which was a ploy to grab the property and that strangely three hearings have swiftly taken place over the last three months.
Pointing out that the application filed by Pramod Sawant was totally untenable and that the Mamlatdar ought to have rejected it at the very threshold, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Pramod Sawant had not even stated the name of the original Bhatkar and that Pramod Sawant has also not revealed since when his parents or he was inducted by that mysterious Bhatkar into this property where the claim of mundkarship is now made. Adv. Rodrigues has stated that this was a basic requirement needed, to establish since when the mundkarship claim is made to enable the claim to be maintainable.
Stating that Pramod Sawant has claimed that he has reconstructed the house at his cost, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Pramod Sawant in his application was however silent on how the re-construction was done and whether Panchayat licence for re-construction was obtained while alleging that the plan “Proposed repair of house” annexed to the application for declaration of mundkarship was merely to get a stamp of approval for an illegal reconstruction.
Drawing the attention that the House tax receipt issued by Village Panchayat annexed is dated 13.09.2019 a few days before the mundkarial application was made showing payment of House tax for years 2018-19 and 2019-20, Adv. Rodrigues has queried about the house tax of the previous years dating back to “the appointed date” when the Mundkar Act came into force.
Questioning as to when the house tax was transferred or entered in Pramod Sawant’s name, Adv. Rodrigues has pointed out that Pramod Sawant having been born on 24th April 1973 cannot make any claim in respect of a right prior to the appointed date required under the Mundkar Act.
Stating that Pramod Sawant has claimed that water connection was obtained by him but has given no details nor attached any water bills, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that if water connection is obtained now it would be inadmissible to claim occupation prior to the appointed date.
Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that Pramod Sawant has in his Mundkar application also claimed that the names of his parents were duly recorded in the electoral roll of the year 1970 but has not enclosed any proof thereof to the effect that it pertains to the very house number of which Mundkarship is now claimed.
Stating that Pramod Sawant in his application has further stated that the Electricity connection continues in the name of the Bhatkar and was not transferred due to ignorance of law on the part of his parents, Adv. Rodrigues has alleged that this is a story hard to believe and that it was clear that they were not occupying the house and hence the electricity connection was rightly not transferred in his parent’s or his name.
Pointing out further that Pramod Sawant in his application makes no mention if his parents are alive or dead and if dead, when they died, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that this was important to see if any of them is dead as if they are not dead, then how does Pramod Sawant make the application for mundkarship in his name.
Alleging that Pramod Sawant has falsely claimed in his Mundkar application that he along with his wife and children are staying in that so called mundkarial house, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the truth was that Pramod Sawant for the last many years has been residing in the bungalow he built at the Goa Housing Board Colony at Sanquelim.
Questioning as to how Pramod Sawant having built a bungalow elsewhere was now claiming to be a mundkar at another place, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that it was a matter of shame and utter disgust that a sitting Chief Minister has stooped to such low levels in seeking to illegally grab land by misusing his Power and the provisions of the Mundkar Act to enrich himself.
Stating that Pramod Sawant’s greed for property seems to be turning to avarice, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that it was very evident that the Chief Minister is seeking to grab more property by now misusing the Government machinery. From Pramod Sawant to Property Sawant and now Mundkar Sawant.
