the goan I network
VASCO
In a reprieve to one group of residents fighting to save their houses from demolition in Baina, the Supreme Court on Friday granted a stay to 22 houses earmarked for demolition after their petition was dismissed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Sources informed The Goan that Mormugao Congress Leader Sankalp Amonkar was instrumental in obtaining the stay from the apex court against the proposed demolition of the 22 houses.
Sources added that two groups had filed separate cases before NGT challenging the demolition notices.
The petition of one group pertaining to the 22 houses was filed in the NGT at Delhi and later moved to NGT at Pune, where the petition challenging the proposed demolition of 22 houses was dismissed.
“There was one-month time frame for residents to appeal against the order before a higher court, which is the Supreme Court. Aggrieved residents then met Amonkar, who assured them of help and guided them to file a civil appeal before the supreme court,” said the source.
Accordingly, a civil appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the final judgement and order of NGT was filed for urgent listing before the Chief Justice of India on August 27 and appeals in the matter was heard on Friday.
Sources also said the apex court adjourned the case for a week and directed that the appellants should not to be disturbed from possession till the next date of hearing.
Sources added that advocates Anitha Shenoy and Rashmi Nandakumar appeared for the appellants.
It may be recalled that a total of 121 houses were found to be violating CRZ rules and a demolition was planned in 2017 after the GCZMA had written to the deputy collector regarding the violations.
Four houses got washed away by the strong waves, while owners of 68 houses later approached the high court. In addition, 11 house owners had approached NGT and were granted stay against the demolition.
However, the remaining 38 house owners had not approached authorities and did not have any stay over planned demolition.
A stay granted to another six houses and 32 houses were demolished on January 18.
Then, 22 house owners challenged the demolition and this petition was filed at Delhi and later moved to NGT at Pune, where the petition was dismissed.
