PANJIM: The three weeks time sought by the Government of India’s standing counsel to file affidavit in the matter related to the illegal bungalow in the heritage precincts at Old Goa has annoyed the Save Old Goa Action Committee and others.
The Save Old Goa Action Committee members were surprised following the lawyer’s request when Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy was on record that the illegal structure is situated in the heritage protected area and that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had issued demolition order in August this year.
“This only shows how the order was passed without issuing any show cause notice or without conducting inquiry. This is how the legal system is being used to deny justice to the aggrieved people,” the committee said.
Save Old Goa Action Committee President Fatima Pereira said though the Government of India counsel sought time to file affidavit, they too filed an intervention application in the matter.
The Bombay High Court at Goa will hear the matter on December 14.
She said that the Save Old Goa Action Committee has also filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to demolish the illegal structure at Old Goa.
She alleged that the petitioner — Corvus Urban Infra LLP, has obtained permissions by misrepresentation of facts under the Ancient Monuments of Archeological Sites and Remains Act 1959 for repairs of the house situated in protected area of two Centrally protected monuments i.e Church of Cajetan and Viceroy’s Arch.
