TEAM HERALD
VASCO: The High Court of Bombay at Goa is expected to pronounce its order regarding the demolition of 205 Baina hutments on April 29. The case’s hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, was pushed back as the court dealt with many other cases listed before it.
Sources informed Herald that the Mormugao Dy collector Gaurish Sankhawalkar also filed an affidavit before the High Court on Monday.
In his affidavit, Sankhawalkar mentioned that “the residents of Baina has shown some documents pertaining to their structures including the house tax receipts issued by the MMC. MMC gives house number and collects house tax only for the fiscal purpose and thereby it does not give any right to the residents. MMC gives house number and collects tax even from illegal houses and having house number, paying house tax does not give right to the petitioner.”
After demolishing 84 houses at Desterro on April 15, 2015, the government was set to demolish another 205 illegal shanties. However, the Baina Residents Welfare Association and other residents approached the High Court for relief before the state administration could demolish their structures. After hearing the PIL, the High Court stayed the demolition for seven days. The case was further adjourned till April 27.
