Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 14: The Goa Lokayukta has publicly named an MLA, municipal councillors, Zilla Panchayat members and panchayat representatives who failed to submit their mandatory statements of assets and liabilities for 2024-25 despite receiving notices.

Among those named is Nuvem MLA Aleixo Antonio De Piedade Sequeira. The list also includes several councillors of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), councillors from municipal councils across Goa, Zilla Panchayat members and panchayat representatives from various villages.

Under the Goa Lokayukta Act, public functionaries are required to periodically disclose their assets and liabilities. The declarations for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, were to be submitted by November 5, 2025.

According to the Lokayukta, the individuals named in the notice had failed to comply with the requirement even by September 30, 2026. The anti-corruption watchdog said it had forwarded a report on the defaulters to the competent authorities on August 8, 2026, and sent copies to the public functionaries concerned.

Despite being informed, the individuals continued to remain in default, prompting the Lokayukta to publish their names under Section 21(2) of the Goa Lokayukta Act, 2011. The provision empowers the institution to make public the names of functionaries who fail to furnish the required information.

The disclosure has brought renewed attention to compliance with statutory asset declaration requirements and accountability among elected representatives and other public functionaries.