Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Apr 29: In a significant order aimed at strengthening grassroots democracy, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed secretaries of panchayats across Goa to allow all panch members access to documents, correspondence and government schemes related to panchayat meeting agendas.

The court ordered that such records must be made available for inspection between 10 am and 12 pm at least seven days before any panchayat meeting.

The directions were issued by a division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar while hearing a petition filed by Sharlet Fernandes, the lone opposition panch member of the Majorda-Utorda-Calata panchayat.

Fernandes had alleged that since 2023 she had been denied access to files and agenda papers for fortnightly meetings, preventing her from participating meaningfully in deliberations.

Observing that elected representatives must be given adequate opportunity to examine materials before discussions, the court said every panch member has the right to inspect correspondence, government schemes and other documents forming part of the meeting agenda.

The bench said the directions were being issued in the “larger interest of grassroots democracy working at panchayat level”.

In her plea, Fernandes contended that resolutions were routinely being passed without discussion or objections, reducing the democratic process to a mere formality. She also alleged that all resolutions passed since 2023 had been approved without meaningful debate during meetings.

The ruling is expected to have wider implications for transparency and participatory decision-making in panchayats across Goa.