2 WP 776 2026 Meena IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA WRIT PETITION NO.776 OF 2026 VIJAY PURASHOTTAM NAYAK AND 2 ORS ... PETITIONERS Versus STATE OF GOA THR CHIEF SECRETARY AND 6 ORS ... RESPONDENTS Mr. Sanman Keny, Advocate for the Petitioners. CORAM:- VALMIKI MENEZES & AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, JJ. DATED :- 22nd September, 2026 P.C.: 1. The reliefs sought in this petition are for a declaration that the Respondents No.5,6 and 7 are not entitled to continue as Panch members of the village Panchayat of Cola since their status stands affected on the grounds stated in the petition. The grounds stated in the petition fall squarely under clause d of sub-section 1 of Section 12 of the Panchayat Raj Act,1994, since the Petitioners allege that the three members of the Panchayat participated in and voted on a discussion in contravention of the provisions of sub-section 4 of Section 55 of the Panchayat Raj Act. The Petitioners therefore have an alternate remedy of filing proceedings under Section 12 r/w Section 55 of the Panchayat Raj Act before the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO), which is the 22nd September, 2026 2 WP 776 2026 forum under that provision that can take a decision on the complaint. 2. In view of the fact that the Petitioners have an alternate and efficacious remedy in the Act, we refrain from entertaining this petition and relegate the Petitioners to that effect under the Act. We have not expressed any opinion on the issues raised in this petition and leave it open to the Petitioners to raise these or any other grounds invoking the provisions under Section 4 of the Act before the BDO. 3. Petition stands dismissed on the aforementioned grounds. AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, J. VALMIKI MENEZES, J. 22nd September, 2026 Signed by: MEENA VISHAL BHOIR Designation: Private Secretary Date: 23/09/2026 10:55:11