The High Court of Bombay at Goa has pulled up the Bardez administra tion over inaction against illegal constructions in Arpora-Nagoa, directing the Deputy Collector to immediately provide a demolition squad to raze unauthorised structures in the village. Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Cha hit Bansal and Navkaran Singh, the Court also in structed the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat to file a compliance report within four weeks of the squad being made available. The direction came after senior Advocate Subodh Kantak, appearing for the panchayat, told the Court that repeated requests to the Deputy Collec tor to provide a demoli tion squad to act against structures belonging to Shiva Naik had gone unan swered.
The Court noted that at least two reminders had been sent in 2024 and questioned the delay in extending administrative support. Kantak further informed the Court that show-cause notices issued to eight in dividuals had been with drawn after the parties produced supporting documents. On the issue of alleged land filling across multiple survey numbers — including 10/3, 8/6, 126/2, 126/3, 126/4, 188/40, 188/43, 188/45, 22/4, 22/5, 23/4 and 22/8 — Additional Government Advocate Deep Shirod kar submitted that the Collector would verify whether these instances form part of the 33 notices issued under Section 33 of the Land Revenue Code in response to com plaints. The Court directed the Panchayat Secretary to assist the Deputy Collector in this exercise.
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Earlier, the panchayat had informed the Court that show-cause notices were issued to 34 structures against which sealing orders had been passed, asking occupants to explain why their premises should not be sealed. The Court has now directed the panchayat to submit, at the next hearing, a tabulated status report detailing action taken on each structure. Counsel for the petitioners, Adv Rohit Bras De Sa, urged the Court to ensure that all structures already fac ing demolition orders are sealed without further delay. With the latest directive, the Court has effectively put the onus on the district administration to act, even as it seeks time-bound accountability from the panchayat on enforcement measures long pending on the ground.
