PANJIM: The High Court on Wednesday directed the Kavlem panchayat to demolish an illegal construction carried out in the open space within next two months and to recover the entiredemolition cost from the respondent Anand Sawant.
The petitioner Sudesh Kurade of Dhavali had filed a writ petition challenging the inaction on the part of the Kavlem village panchayat against an illegal construction in the poen space reserved for the members of the cooperative housingsociety, Dhavali, without obtaining any permission from any authority.
The petitioner stated that Sawant started construction in open space somewhere in July 2021 when no construction activity is permitted on open space. He had filed a complaint with the village panchayat in July 2021 while, society members filed another complaint on August 2021 after which he oanchayat issued a notice of inspection but the construction activity continued at a faster pace.
After the panchayat issued show cause notice to Sawant, the latetr challenged it by filing an appeal before the additional director of panchayat, who granted an ex-parte stay. Taking advantage of it, Sawant completed the construction of house in the open space without obtaining permission from any authority.
The Court had earlier directed the authorities not to issue any occupancy certificate to the structure and also not to occupy it. The panchayat was asked to file an affidavit explaining as to why no action was taken despite stop work orders.
