Attack on advocate is an attack on law

THE GOAN NETWORK

Published Jul 20, 2026

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Late last week, the State witnessed an assault on a practising advocate, Ankur Kumar, who had visited the site of an illegal construction in Morjim to enforce an order of demolition. The advocate, who suffered grievous injuries and is currently hospitalised, said a group of around ten men attacked him. While the police have made arrests, including that of a father-son duo, the incident highlights the kind of lawlessness and an absence of fear of the rule of law that is taking over the State.

Ankur Kumar is no ordinary advocate. He’s an advocate practising at the Bombay High Court at Goa and has represented several high-profile clients over the years. The Advocates Association has protested against the attack, yet there’s a feeling that there isn’t enough outrage surrounding the attack. It is not so much about who the advocate was, but the fact that an advocate -- someone respected as being an officer of the law -- could be attacked for his attempt at enforcing an order that was litigated all the way up to the Supreme Court, where it was upheld, is indicative of the extent to which nefarious actors will go to protect their illegal businesses.

This hasn’t happened overnight. Over the last few years, the State machinery has consistently turned a blind eye towards illegal constructions, especially those related to tourism businesses. The tragedy at Birch by Romeo Lane was only the tip of the iceberg. Much before that, the Bombay High Court at Goa had launched a crackdown on illegal constructions in the north Goa coastal belt from Anjuna right up to Morjim, Mandrem and Arambol, but despite the High Court taking cognisance of the matter, action has been painfully slow.

It has been left to individuals, activists and public-spirited persons to litigate against these blatantly illegal constructions. As we’ve seen in the case of Romeo Lane, despite several demolition notices being issued and demolitions being conducted, the same structures have been reinstalled with impunity. The State has remained a mute spectator as this rigmarole has played out season after season.

Instead of coming down with an iron hand on such individuals and businesses who believe they are above the law, the State has acted in a manner in which illegalities are being rewarded -- be it through legalisation, turning a blind eye to them or simply encouraging them to continue by consistently stymieing action against them through insincere assurances before the High Court that action will be taken. What better example can be offered than the hotel owned by a senior legislator that was allowed to run for several years despite it being illegal while the case dragged on at the National Green Tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court.

It is this attitude by the government and its machinery that enables those who indulge in illegal constructions to believe that they can get away with it. It is important that the government sends out a message that there will be no compromise when it comes to dealing with those who attack officers of the law or anyone enforcing it. Anything short of that will send out a message that the government is tacitly in support of those involved in illegal constructions.

THE GOAN NETWORK

Published Jul 20, 2026

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Goa to pay the price as monsoon misses its beat

Published Jul 15, 2026

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The rhythm of agriculture in rural Goa has largely depended on the monsoon. For generations, the arrival of steady rains has signalled the start of the farming season, setting villages and fields into motion. But this July, that rhythm has been disrupted. A delayed onset and an unusually prolonged dry spell in July, when there is normally heavy rainfall, have left the state with a worrying 36 per cent rainfall deficit. From Batim to Benaulim and deep into the hinterlands of…