The Goa government has closed the disciplinary proceedings against former chief town planner Rajesh Naik, who was suspended following allegations of under-assessment of fees for land conversion under Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. Chief Secretary V Candavelou confirmed the development, stating that the action was taken after a thorough review.
Revocation of Suspension
TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane announced that the state government has revoked the suspension order issued against Naik. “We had requested to withdraw the suspension as the court gave him a clean chit. The Chief Minister has approved the withdrawal of suspension,” Rane said.
Background of the Case
The directorate of vigilance initiated an inquiry into the matter after Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the high court, during a public interest litigation (PIL) hearing, that 46 beneficiaries had been identified where conversion fees were deliberately under-assessed. The PIL challenged the systematic undervaluation of fees, which allegedly caused significant financial loss to the state exchequer.
Departmental Actions
Following the inquiry, the TCP department submitted files related to the 46 cases of under-assessment to the directorate of vigilance. Additionally, the department passed orders for the cancellation of land conversion in instances where beneficiaries failed to pay the difference in conversion fees.
Allegations of Deliberate Under-Assessment
One of the petitioners, Swapnesh Sherlekar, alleged that the TCP department deliberately undervalued the calculation of fees for zone corrections under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act. The department applied the old rate of Rs 200 per square meter instead of the new rate of Rs 1,000 per square meter as stipulated by a notification issued on March 28, 2024. This discrepancy led to a substantial loss of revenue for the government.
Conclusion
With the closure of disciplinary proceedings, Naik is now free from the allegations that led to his suspension. The government’s decision aligns with the court’s observations, which had cleared him of wrongdoing. The case highlights the importance of accurate fee assessment in land conversion processes to prevent revenue leakage.
