Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Directorate of Panchayats to dispose of, within six weeks, a complaint in connection with the construction activity being carried out by the Karnataka-based Chitrapur Math Charitable Trust at Arjuna Malgi, Kundaim.
The direction has been issued following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by seven residents of Ponda relating to the construction undertaken by the Trust in the property bearing Survey No 62/0 at Arjuna Malgi.
In pursuance of the complaints made by the petitioners, the Town and Country Planning Department had conducted a site inspection, in which, certain deviations from the approved plan were recorded.
In its order, the division bench of Justices Mahesh Sonak and Nutan Sardessai stated that the issue whether the construction is illegal or not, is a matter to be examined by the statutory authorities like the panchayat and the Town and Country Planning Department. Accordingly, the bench directed the Director of Panchayats to dispose of the complaints as expeditiously as possible and in any case within a period of six weeks.
“The panchayat has to comply with the principles of natural justice and fair play. The panchayat will take into consideration the written responses of both the petitioners as well as the respondent (Chitrapur Math Charitable Trust). The inspection report and the documents are to be furnished to the panchayat within two weeks. Such documents may be furnished to the petitioners as well as the respondent,” it said.
The panchayat is also asked to communicate its decision to the petitioners and the respondent within two weeks from the date the same is actually taken.
