Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai, said, “As per the High Court order they were asked to appear before me along with the documents substantiating their claims, however, they wanted 15 days time to submit the documents which is not in my hands.”
The High Court of Bombay at Goa, after hearing the parties in the writ petition filed by Baina Resident’s Welfare Association passed an order on June 17 directing the Mormugao mamlatdar to pass a fresh reasoned order based on the notices issued to the petitioners after hearing them and allowing them to produce any additional material, to prove they have been residing at Baina prior to 1995 and that their structures therefore cannot be demolished under the Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction) Act, 1995.
The High Court, in its order, had also directed the association to appear before the Mormugao mamlatdar on June 23 at 10 am. Most of the petitioners who appeared had no clue that the mamlatdar’s office would demand for proof of residence (prior to 1995) on the day of hearing which later led to confusion at the office.
“As per our advocate’s directions we were present at the office at 9 am along with our applications to seek 15 days time to submit the documents and proofs so as to establish that we are residing in structures at Baina beach before 1995. However, we were shocked that the officers were demanding proof at the time of the hearing,” said a Baina resident present for the hearing on Tuesday.
Only 23 of the 155 residents submitted documents while around 100 others submitted an application seeking time to produce the documents.
