PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed that premises which have no occupancy certificates and consent to operate in Calangute not to be desealed to carry out any activities and to seek the Court’s permission before doing so.
While hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by Sudesh Mayekar and Kundan Kerkar, the Court disposed of miscellaneous civil application filed by one of the respondents Anthony D’Souza. Also five other respondents namely Roshan Azavedo, Trivesh Azgaonkar, Aldo D’Souza, K K Suresh, Ravikant Yadav and Deryl Thomas D’Souza, whose premises were sealed, submitted that they had already applied to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for consent to operate and prayed that directions be issued to the Board to dispose their applications in accordance with law expeditiously.
However, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Mahesh Sonak stated that the respondents should seek order for desealing and for occupying the premises after obtaining all the necessary permissions like occupancy certificate, consent to operate etc.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Rohit Bras de Sa had stated that several ‘Dance Bars’ were operating in illegal unauthorised structures without occupancy certificates and beyond 11 pm thereby violating the timings specified in the panchayat trade licence.
The Court has also asked all the respondents to file their affidavits within next two week and posted the matter for further consideration on February 12.
