MARGAO
Can a local panchayat or municipal body hold a meeting to discuss and approve the budget estimates for the new financial year 2026-27 when the Election Code of Conduct is in force?
The question has assumed significance given that Gram Sabha meetings scheduled in the months of March and April in Salcete have all been called off in view of the election code of conduct in force in South Goa due to the Ponda by-poll.
The special meeting called by the Margao Municipal Council on Monday, which has now been adjourned to Tuesday for want of quorum, has brought the question back to the fore.
When scribes covering the MMC special meeting posed this question to Chairperson Damu Shirodkar and Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar, they claimed that the civic body had sought permission from the Director of Municipal Administration to convene the meeting. “I have convened the special meeting to pass the budget or else the civic body will not be able to spend money in April,” Damu said.
Both the Chairperson and Chief Officer further claimed that the DMA had given them the green signal to convene the budget meeting, throwing up questions on whether local bodies are required to seek permission from heads of departments or from the Election Commission of India.
