PANAJI
The Goa government on Wednesday told the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the Mhaje Ghar scheme protects only residential houses providing shelter to people and does not extend any protection to illegal commercial structures.
Making submissions during the hearing of a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) on illegal constructions, Advocate General Devidas Pangam clarified that long-standing directions of the High Court to demolish illegal structures in the State continue to hold good.
“As far as illegal constructions in the State of Goa are concerned, there are directions issued by the High Court to demolish and take action against these structures, which is an old order,” Pangam said. He explained that subsequent to the judgment, the State legislature enacted laws to regularise certain residential structures constructed prior to a cut-off date, subject to fulfilment of domicile and other statutory requirements.
The AG also informed the court that an affidavit has been filed placing on record the relevant statutes, clearly stating that only residential structures providing shelter are protected under the law, and not commercial constructions.
“What is protected are only residential structures, and not commercial structures,” he assured the Bench.
During the hearing, the court also considered the large volume of compliance reports submitted by panchayats and municipalities regarding action taken against illegal constructions. As the documents require detailed scrutiny, the High Court permitted the appointment of nodal officers to analyse the reports and place a consolidated compliance status before the court.
The Deputy Director of Municipal Administration has been appointed as the nodal officer for municipalities and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), while the Extension Officer of the Directorate of Panchayats will act as the nodal officer for panchayat areas.
“The legislature has stepped in only in the interest of citizens and it does not protect any illegal activity of a commercial nature,” he said. The matter has been posted for further hearing after three weeks.
