The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday quashed and set aside both a circular dated December 15, 2022, and an executive order dated August 22, 2024, that had brought into operation two Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for the villages of Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora and Nagoa.
The court directed that all development permissions in these five villages must now adhere strictly to the Regional Plan 2021, effectively restoring the earlier planning framework.
The order will for now address rising concerns about large-scale conversion of land, particularly of hill slopes and eco-sensitive zones, which had been reclassified as settlement areas, for real estate development in these villages. Additionally, critics cited the sanctioning of a high Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 200 in already congested zones as another point of concern.
The judgment came in response to public interest litigation (PIL) writ petitions filed by the Goa Foundation, Calangute Village Panchayat and the Calangute Constituency Forum, who had challenged the legality of continuing construction activities based on the defunct ODPs.
While allowing the petitions, the High Court granted a four-week stay on the operation of its order, giving the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department time to seek relief from the Supreme Court. However, it firmly instructed that the status quo be maintained during this interim period.
Earlier in December 2024, the petitioners had moved the High Court seeking a halt to construction in the five villages after the TCP department was found issuing permissions under the withdrawn ODPs. In an order dated January 23, 2025, the High Court upheld their plea, stating that the Supreme Court’s previous directions made it clear that there should be no changes on the ground in the affected areas.
Despite this, the State government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s restraint on construction. The Apex Court dismissed the SLP on February 6, 2025.
The High Court directed that all development permissions in the villages of Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora and Nagoa must now adhere to the Regional Plan 2021
The judgment came in response to PILs filed by the Goa Foundation, Calangute Village Panchayat and the Calangute Constituency Forum. They had challenged the legality of continuing construction activities based on the defunct ODPs
The HC granted a four-week stay on the operation of its order, giving the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department time to seek relief from the Supreme Court
The court has ordered status quo be maintained during this period, giving cheer to those protesting against large-scale conversion of land, particularly of hill slopes and eco-sensitive zones, which had been reclassified as settlement areas
The High Court directed that all development permissions in the villages of Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora and Nagoa must now adhere to the Regional Plan 2021
The judgment came in response to PILs filed by the Goa Foundation, Calangute Village Panchayat and the Calangute Constituency Forum. They had challenged the legality of continuing construction activities based on the defunct ODPs
The HC granted a four-week stay on the operation of its order, giving the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department time to seek relief from the Supreme Court
The court has ordered status quo be maintained during this period, giving cheer to those protesting against large-scale conversion of land, particularly of hill slopes and eco-sensitive zones, which had been reclassified as settlement areas