Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday granted an interim stay to the demolition of old Sanguem Town Hall but did not allow the petitioner to occupy the premises on safety grounds.
The authorities had decided to demolish the 60-year-old building but one of the vendors Shaikh Nazir Ahamad approached the High Court praying for a stay.
Additional government advocate Shetye told the Court that barring the petitioner, all other occupants had vacated the premises since the building was in a dangerous anddilapidated condition as per the report of the Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi. The building is in dilapidated condition not fit for occupation as it poses a risk to the life of citizens/passers-by, he said.
The petitioner’s counsel Adv Rohit Bras De Sa submitted that
the petitioner, who has a right to be accommodated in the new building was never given the occupancy of the premises which aspect is also the subject matter of challenge in this petition. He said that the demolition squad was at the site and that he was served with the notice only on November 7, 2024. It was further submitted that the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 were not applicable and that action taken was illegal.
Considering the materials on record, the division comprising Justice M S Karnik and Justice Nivedita P Mehta did not allow the petitioner to continue his activities in the shop premises presently. However, in view of the submissions made by the Adv De Sa and the Additional Government Advocate seeking time to take instructions and respond, the Court directed the respondents not to proceed with the demolition and to cordon the building for the safety of the citizens.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on November 20.