Goa Legislative Assembly

“Attention of the House is drawn as regards the apprehension in the minds of the Scheduled Tribe (ST), Community in our State, as regards the Government’s decision to intervene in the affairs of the Gomantak Gaud Maratha Samaj Association and United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) by appointing an Administrator. The Gomantak Maratha Samaj Association and United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA), has been a pillar of support and empowerment for the ST community, working to uplift and ensure their welfare. The steps the Government has taken to restore the situation for the benefits of the ST Community”.

“This House congratulates Shri Laxman Pai a prominent Goan Artist and well known Social worker being conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award in the hands of Hon. President of India.”

The Motion was adopted unanimously.

“This House congratulates Shri Mahabaleshwar Sail, a prominent Literaturist a renowned bi-lingual Writer (Konkani and Marathi) for getting this years prestigious National  Level Saraswati Sanmman Puraskar.”

“This House congratulates Shri Raju Nayak, a prominent journalist and editor of Lokamt-Goa for getting Acharya Atre Award for his contribution in the journalism thus encouraging the journalists and also inspiring a young generation to take up journalism with greater vigor.”

The Motion was adopted unanimously.

“This House congratulates the cast and crew of Konkani film “K Sera Sera” including Producer Raju and Gayatri Pednekar and Director Rajiv Shinde and also Marathi non feature Film “Aaba Aiktaay Naa? young Film Maker Aditya Jambale for being the best Director in non feature   category at 64^th National Film Awards thus bringing fame and glory to Goa.”

The Motion was adopted unanimously.

Respected Speaker Sir,

I seek your permission to raise the following matter of urgent public importance during Zero Hour:

For the past several years, the revered Maya Kelbai Panchayatan Devasthan of Mayem, Bicholim, has been at the center of a prolonged mahajanship dispute. This sacred temple, deeply significant to the people of Mayem and devotees across Goa, has frequently witnessed ritual restrictions, festival suspensions, and even temporary closure, following clashes between community factions.

While the Mamlatdar’s interventions and police deployment have helped maintain order temporarily, devotees and villagers continue to suffer due to:

• Inconsistent access to temple rituals and pujas, especially during important jatra festivals;
• Lack of a stable, court-acknowledged managing committee to oversee temple affairs;
• Devotee concerns over misuse of donations and absence of financial transparency;
• Continued delay in implementing High Court and Supreme Court-backed mahajan lists;
• Loss of religious and cultural continuity due to suspension of age-old traditions.

In April 2023 and again in 2024, the temple had to be closed or rituals suspended under Mamlatdar orders due to fear of violence. While these orders aim at law and order, they also deny devotees their religious rights.

I therefore urge the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Minister for Revenue to:

1. Facilitate court-compliant and inclusive mahajan elections, without undue delay;
2. Establish a neutral administrator or receiver under existing or amended Devasthan Regulations to manage the temple until disputes are judicially resolved;
3. Ensure uninterrupted rituals and public access to the temple, under priestly guidance;
4. Create a joint dialogue platform involving all stakeholder communities to find long-term consensus;
5. Consider tabling the pending Devasthan law amendments, with safeguards for harmony and religious freedom.

This is not just an administrative issue—it is about protecting the spiritual and cultural fabric of Mayem and the rights of all Goans to access their places of worship without fear, conflict, or exclusion.

I request that this House take serious cognizance of the matter and that the government inform this Assembly of concrete steps being taken to restore normalcy at Maya Kelbai Devasthan.