PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa by an interim order directed the Calangute Village Panchayat to renew the trade licence of an 82-year-old man for operating a general store on the usual terms.
However, the court made it clear that this renewal will be subject to further orders in the petition which the Division Bench will take up for a final hearing at an early date.
The court also told the village panchayat to communicate to the petitioner through a formal order about the renewing of the trade licence latest by September 27 and to file a detailed affidavit giving details of renewal of trade licences granted as on April 1, 2021.
In the affidavit the village panchayat should give an explanation as to whether in each of the cases an inquiry was conducted, whether trade licence was in respect of a structure for which licences were produced by the party seeking such renewal within next four weeks.
Division Bench comprising Justice M S Sonak and Justice M S Jawalkar said that the affidavit was required since the petitioner Bernard Fernandes alleged discrimination.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Rohit Bras De Sa brought to the notice of the court that Fernandes was granted a trade licence by the village panchayat to operate a general store in 2007. From 2007 till 2018, the licence was renewed by the village panchayat without raising any issue whatsoever.
