A RECENT decision of the Goa government to amend the Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, has been opposed by civil society groups. The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2009 empowers the panchayat secretary, a governmentappointed official, to bypass the elected sarpanch and members of the gram sabha while executing government orders. This contravenes the very purpose of the law meant to devolve power to the people, said the groups who demanded the bill be withdrawn.

The bill, recommended by a committee headed by minister for Panchayati Raj, Babu Azgaonkar, was passed during the monsoon session of the legislative assembly. Opposition parties who are against the amendment had staged a walkout.