Earlier in August, advocates from all over the state were livid with the government’s decision to move four civil and criminal courts from around the city to a central location at the Spaces building in Patto. They had threatened to file a case in the Supreme Court since the government had acquired land in Merces, but were yet to develop it.
The North Goa District Advocates Association petitioned the Bombay High Court to seek a stay on the shifting of courts to a rented building in Patto. One of the many reasons pointed out by the association in their petition is the stench from a garbage dump next to the premises. The Bombay High Court on its part has directed the government of Goa to complete the construction of the court complex at Merces by January 15, 2018 and submit a quarterly report on the progress of the work.
“We direct the government of Goa to complete the construction of court complex at Merces (outskirts of Panaji) in all respects by January 15, 2018. Construction shall be completed in such a manner that actual use of the building can commence on January 16, 2018,” Justice AR Joshi and Justice AS Oka said in the notice adding that, “the government shall submit quarterly reports to this court about the progress made in the construction of the court complex. The government shall serve copies.”
This has come as relief to advocates, litigants and the public who would have to not only deal with the stench of the garbage but also the lack of parking and the trouble of getting to the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th floors of the building that is was to accomodate the courts.
“The view from those floors is nothing but filth and garbage and if for instance the power to the building is out, we would have to resort to opening the windows, the only smell that would come would be of the garbage piling outside,” said Advocate Gaurish Agni.
Advocate Harsha Naik too praised the courts decision saying it was a breather since added confusion and chaos would not be a problem for the moment as cases continue to be taken up in the original heritage buildings.
And the piles of garbage piling outside is evident just as one passes by. The walk up to the Central library located behind the Spaces building is a difficult one if not for holding your nose or a handkerchief.
In addition, the court has also ordered that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) submit quarterly reports to the court on steps to reduce and prevent the nuisance created due to the garbage dump.
The government, had in 2007 narrowed down on the 49,800 square meter land in Merces to house the 22 courts after objections to a site in Porvorim were raised. Since then, members of the association say no tenders were issued or work undertaken. Instead, the government has leased out around 4,500 square meters in Spaces building in Patto to house four of the courts.
In a meeting of the lawyers association held in July the association and forums deliberated over reasons to object to the Patto building. Apart from the garbage, difficulty in reaching courts on time as there were only two lifts to accommodate over 2,000 people that would be visiting the court as well as to move between other courts, was another issue.
