TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane has withdrawn his decision to challenge the High Court’s ruling on Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act in the Supreme Court. Minister Rane announced that the government will instead redraft the section, incorporating the changes and observations suggested by the High Court.
The decision was taken after detailed discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the new BJP state president Damu Naik.
On March 13, the High Court struck down the rules and guidelines under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act, effectively blocking its implementation. However, following a request from the state government, the court stayed the implementation of its order for six weeks, directing the state not to grant any further permissions under the section in the interim.
Initially, Minister Rane had announced that the government would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. However, within two days, he reversed this stance and declared late on Saturday that the government would not pursue the matter in the apex court.
He clarified that the TCP Department would review the High Court’s directives and hold a board meeting with experts to decide on the amendments needed in Section 17(2).
"Section 17(2) remains valid. The court has not declared it unconstitutional, contrary to some claims. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the development process is not stalled." said Rane.
Rane criticized the NGO Goa Foundation for interpreting the High Court's decision as a victory for the people.
"If the Goa Foundation is satisfied with the verdict, they should publicly state that they will not challenge it in the Supreme Court. Some NGOs have launched a malicious campaign against the Town Planning Department, twisting the court's decision to suit their narrative," Rane alleged.
Addressing concerns raised about investor interests, Rane stated, "My comments on investors were misinterpreted. My priority is to safeguard the interests of Goans who have suffered due to errors in the regional plan. Planning errors cannot continue to cause hardship for the people. Any corrections will also involve reversing zoning changes where necessary."
Minister Rane further claimed that while the court struck down the rules under Section 17(2), it had recorded positive remarks about Section 39(a). The government will now focus on implementing changes to ensure compliance with the court’s directives.