The matter pertains to a proposed Hotel/Golf Course Project of M/s Leading Hotels Limited (M/s LHL) at Tiracol village in Pernem Taluka, wherein allegations have been made of fraudulent purchase of ‘agricultural tenanted lands by the Hotel/Company and of subsequently converting the same for non-agricultural purpose pursuant to the consent orders.
The State Government i.e. the Respondent No. 5 through an Affidavit filed in the Honorable High Court in July 2015 has made its stand clear to uphold the Rule of law and to protect the Agricultural Tenanted lands, if any. The Government has made a submission that in view of the allegations made in the Petition, an Official was appointed to find out whether the lands were indeed Agricultural tenanted lands and to prepare a Report and to submit the same to the State Government.
The Government accordingly set up and constituted an Inquiry and appointed Mr Sandip Jacques, a Member of the Goa Civil Service, presently posted as the Executive Director of the Sports Authority of Goa, Panjim, vide Order dated 02/09/2015 to hold an enquiry in the said matter; to act as a fact finding authority with all the powers of Mamlatdar/Agricultural land tribunal under the Goa Daman & Diu Agricultural tenancy Act and to inquire into:
a) Whether the land in question as referred to in the aforementioned PIL/WP were agricultural lands/ or tenanted lands and
b) Whether the allegations regarding Tenancy made in the Petition as regards to tenanted lands are true and correct, and
c) Whether the lands are or not tenanted lands,
d) Whether any person was or was not tenant of such lands.
