REVIVAL OF DICTATORSHIP by John Philip Pereira, Nagoa

With a mere phone call to the Administrator South Zone, the Revenue Ministry of Government of Goa directed to stop the disbursement of ZONNs and dividends on which many old, sick and needy people depend. Is that not dictatorship? I appeal to the Chief Minister to save the age old Comunidades which are independent agricultural village communes which survived Sultan and Portuguese rule.

Dr. Willy D’souza has rightly voiced concern about the autocratic behaviour of the Civil Administrator and the Revenue Department for interfering in the appointment of Managing Committees of Saligao and Pilerne Comunidades. The High Court has directed that the Government translate the Code of the Comunidades from Portuguese into English as per Clause III of Article 348 of the Constitution. The same petition seeks to resolve the payment of salaries of the staff serving in the Administration of Comunidades. Despite the matter being in court, the Administrator of South Zone has defiantly implemented Central Government pay scales to the staff and collected funds from the Government for payment of salaries without discussing and approval from the Communidade Bodies or ascertaining the financial health of the Comunidades as inscribed in the Code. And now, it is understood that government loans to the Administrator of which Comunidades are neither beneficiaries nor sureties, the Administrator is trying to pressurize the Comunidades to claim derrama calculated at exorbitant percentage beyond that which is earmarked in the Code to repay that loan for which he is solely responsible. While the matter is before the Court, interference with administration of justice is contempt.