The Supreme Court on Tuesday opened the sealed cover contain ing the inspection report related to the controver sial bungalow constructed within the heritage zone at Old Goa. However, copies of the report have not yet been provided to either the pe titioner, the Save Old Goa Action Committee or the respondents. The Court directed all parties to file their responses, if any, within the next four weeks after receiving the report. The inspection report is said to be detailed and voluminous, and it also includes photographic evi dence documenting the site conditions. During an earlier hear ing on December 2, 2025, the Supreme Court had ap pointed retired District and Additional Sessions Judge Edgar Fernandes to carry out and supervise a de tailed inspection of Survey No. 4/1 of Village Ella, Old Goa. The inspection specif ically focused on Plot No. B measuring 2,400 square metres owned by Suvarna Lotlikar. The exercise was undertaken in the context of the permission granted for repairs by the Director (Monuments-II) on Febru ary 3, 2020. Pursuant to the Court’s directions, Judge Fernandes conducted the inspection along with officials from the Archaeological Sur vey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department.
Representatives of both the petitioner and the respondents were also present during the inspection process. Site visits were carried out on two occasions – De cember 30, 2025, and January 7, 2026. Following the completion of the inspec tion, Judge Fernandes submitted his report in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court on January 12, 2026. The report was circu lated to the residence office of the Presid ing Judge for the Court’s perusal.
