PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to issue a fresh advertisement inviting applications for allotment of shacks, while also instructing that 90 per cent of the shacks be reserved to operators with over three years experience. This will further delay the allotment of shacks, while the tourist season has already begun.
The division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Nutan Sardessai also asked Tourism Department to amend the slabs for the allocation of shacks mentioned in Shack Policy 2019 -2022. Contrary to the government’s criteria for the allocation which had been of ten and five years experience, the court has directed that 90 per cent shacks be allocated to shack operators with an experience of three years and above, whereas the remaining 10 per cent should be to those with less than three years of experience.
During the arguments held on Friday, Advocate General Devidas Pangam said the matter is purely academic and experience is a valid criteria. The court, however, sought to know the sudden change in the experience slabs.
The directions on Friday came in view of a petition filed by 27 locals challenging the reservation of 90 per cent for the experienced beach shack operators citing that balance 10 per cent is injustice on the unemployed and freshers in the business. The petitioners also pointed out to a sudden change in the second criteria wherein minimum five years is required for being eligible to be an allottee, whereas until last year the eligibility was three years.
During the last hearing this week, the court had asked to defer the allotment of shacks, earlier scheduled on October 17 after an assurance from the government to keep it on hold until the court’s decision. The division bench had also sought an explanation from the government on the change in the years of experience while also expressing concern on the manner in which allotment is being done.
