MARGAO: Even as the Carmona Panchayat rejected Verda’s plea to grant them an extension till the end of May to carry on their business, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court reportedly while hearing Verda’s appeal directed them to immediately stop their bar and restaurant along with the spa and file an affidavit.
According to Sucorro Miranda of the Carmona Villagers Welfare Forum, while hearing Verda’s appeal on Wednesday, the High Court directed the company to immediately stop their bar and restaurant and also the spa service.
Besides, the company has been asked to file an affidavit giving details of the bookings they have taken as on date and directed not to take any more bookings till the matter is decided. Kayji Real Estates Pvt Ltd, the company that owns and runs Verda had pleaded that they be allowed to continue with their business since they have already taken bookings.
Kayji Real Estates sought and got permission to construct residential apartments and after the construction suddenly applied for trade license which the previous panchayat body granted them and when they commenced business of getting guests, the neighbours were disturbed with the noise and unruly behaviour of the guests besides the heavy traffic.
The present panchayat asked the company to produce records based on which the use was changed from residential to commercial as the construction licence and the occupation certificate is issued for residential purpose.
The company appealed against this direction of the panchayat and got an order in its favour which however was challenged by the Panchayat before the District Court that vide order dated April 29, 2019 upheld the panchayat stand following which the panchayat vide letter dated May 2, 2019 directed Verda to stop all commercial activities immediately.
In response to that order, Verda sought time till May 31, 2019 which the panchayat rejected on Wednesday on grounds that granting an extension would go against the panchayat resolution and also the district court order.
Carmona Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge said that he would immediately write to the company stating that their request has been rejected and suggested that instead of moving the courts and juggling around, the company set its records and papers right first.
He said that by May 25, 2019 he would arrange for an inspection of the premises along with government agencies like FDA, Pollution Control Board, Health, etc as all the licences of the company have since expired and it has to be shut down.
“This panchayat is not a rubber stamp that will blindly comply with things,” he said while disclosing that he would be moving for sealing the premises till the company gets all its documents corrected.