CCP FALSELY CLAIMED THAT BOTH CO-OPTED COUNCILLORS WERE EXPERTS

The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) while proposing to nominate Kabir Makhija and Kishore Sastry as co-opted Councillors had falsely stated that they were experts in the field of Engineering and Urban Administration respectively. This has been revealed in the information obtained from the CCP under the Right to Information Act. 

As per the information furnished, the Panaji Mayor Rohit Monserrate  on 7^th April moved a note to the Commissioner proposing the names of Kabir Makhija as expert in Engineering  and Kishore Sastry as an expert in Urban Administration for nomination as Councillors.

Immediately on 9^th April the then CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues wrote to the Director of Urban Development proposing the names of the two for being co-opted as Councillors without verifying the expertise of the two proposed to be nominated.

Interestingly the bio-data submitted by Kabir Makhija and Kishore Sastry which is on file and copies of which have been furnished under RTI does not make any mention of having any expertise in Engineering and Municipal Administration.

Section 9 (b) of the CCP Act makes a provision to nominate up to five Councillors being persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, engineering, architecture, archaeology, heritage etc.

The appointment of Kabir Makhija and Kishore Sastry as co-opted Councillors is in total breach and violation of the CCP Act as both do not meet the requirement to be nominated as Councillors not having the necessary special knowledge or experience in the required fields.

This provision was incorporated in the Act so that the CCP could get the proficient advice and guidance of experts in the designated fields and not to be misused to politically rehabilitate former Councillors.

The intent of the law to create these posts of nominated councilors was to have persons with vast experience in the fields specified in the Act so that they could through their long experience and enhanced knowledge contribute their ideas at meetings and deliberations of the Corporation.