Margao: The appointment of Patricio Coutinho as president of the comunidade of Margao has triggered strong objections from the components of the comunidade, which has demanded that the decision be kept in abeyance pending an inquiry.The revenue department, in an order dated June 22, approved Coutinho’s appointment under Article 51 of the Code of Comunidades for the 2025-27 triennium. The order came despite a representation filed by the comunidade’s managing committee on May 22, raising strong objections to the move.Briefing reporters in the presence of the comunidade’s attorney Celestino Noronha, a shareholder, Franky Monteiro, said that the managing committee’s own recommendation for the president’s post were ignored.
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“Govt or the administrator of comunidades must explain why the recommendations were rejected,” he said.Monteiro alleged that Coutinho did not figure among the “able components” eligible to contest the presidential election held in Dec 2024, and became a shareholder only in 2026 after acquiring five shares. “How can he thus even be eligible to be appointed president?” he asked.He further alleged that this May, Coutinho filed an intervention petition supporting shopkeepers facing eviction from the ground floor of the comunidade building—a case the comunidade itself had filed—acting against its interests just as judgment was due.Monteiro said the committee feared Coutinho’s appointment could influence pending mundcarial and tenancy cases, as well as the Mhajem Ghar scheme, and alleged the move was “politically motivated” to protect encroachers on comunidade land at many places.The components of the comunidade of Margao have unanimously demanded that the appointment be held in abeyance until an inquiry is conducted, and that Merwin Cruz—earlier proposed by the comunidade’s attorney—be appointed president instead.The post fell vacant after president Savio Correia resigned and substitute president Gino Colaco expressed inability to take over, following which the matter was referred to govt.
