PANJIM: The issue of common burial facility at Sonsoddo has now reached the Supreme Court, which has issued notices to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), Margao Municipal Council and others returnable on July 3.
The South Goa Christian Trust, through its treasurer Sydney Lino Barancho and others, have filed a special leave petition to appeal (civil) before the Supreme Court, praying for ex-parte stay of the proceedings before the Bombay High Court at Goa in a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by Muzaffar Manzoor Kadri regarding the maintenance of crematoria, cemeteries kabrastans, at Sonsoddo, Margao.
According to the petitioner, the High Court on October 12, 2022 passed an impugned order erroneously replying upon the ex-facie illegal agreement entered between the Margao municipal council and the Sunni Jamaat Ul-Muslameen, Malbhat-Margao and that this agreement bypassed the due process under the Land Acquisition Act, 1884, thereby illegally altering the original purpose of the acquisition i.e. to provide burial ground for other communities as well, and not just to one particular community.
The petitioner stated that Margao municipal council passed second resolution of June 12, 2011 thereby modifying the earlier resolution dated May 28, 2010 stating that the land acquired at Sonsoddo will be used for burial ground for Muslim community only. On May 28, 2020, the Margao municipal council has resolved to provide burial ground for all three communities and that the second resolution was contrary to the purpose for which the land was acquired.
