Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has informed the Bombay High Court (HC) at Goa that it will shortly deposit the Rs 2.7 crore with the HC, in connection with the MMC’s non-compliance in implanting a 2019 HC order, in a case pertaining to land acquisition at Navelim.
The advocate on behalf of MMC, S D Padiyar, informed the HC that the MMC Chief Officer (CO) is pursuing the matter with the government to secure approval for the minimum market rate proposed, and trying to obtain the approval by the date of the next hearing. In case this approval is not obtained by that time, Padiyar said the CO will file an affidavit furnishing the details of the officer before whom the matter is pending.
The HC directed that a copy of this affidavit must be served to the said officer or officers in advance, who would then have to appear before the HC, either in person or through an advocate.
The HC bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Bharat P Deshpande further added that if they are satisfied that the CO has not received the necessary assistance to comply with the court’s 2019 orders, then they would have to consider if any action under the Contempt of Courts Act is required.
Earlier, the HC had noted that the MMC had not complied with its December 2, 2019 order on the basis of a statement given on behalf of the MMC. After Domingoes Baretto filed a contempt petition for non-compliance of the order, the MMC sought a two-year extension.
The MMC had added that in October, the government had constituted a team under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act and that inspections were held. All Departments have given their reports except the TCP Department, and as a result, it could not comply with the court’s directions, said the MMC.
The civic body informed the HC that they would initiate the land acquisition process under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for the construction of a road at Colmorod, Navelim, Margao, in respect of lands covered under the earlier declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act issued by the government on September 20, 2010, as modified under the notification dated May 30, 2021, under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act. Accepting this statement, the HC had directed the MMC to complete the process at the earliest and in any event, within one year.
