PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to decide a pending review application against a demolition order by December 26.
The direction was issued by a Division Bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Ashish Chavan while hearing a writ petition filed by Carrick Bend Realty LLP through its partner Kirti Nerlekar. The petition sought a time-bound decision on the review application, which has been pending since November 19, 2025.
Advocate Parag Rao, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the petitioner was ready to present submissions before the GCZMA, but the review application had not been taken up. He said this delay was causing serious prejudice.
Rao pointed out that the demolition order dated October 7, 2025, relates to structures at survey numbers 118/0, 118/1-S-1, 118/1-S-2, 118/1-S-3 and 118/1-S-4 at Morjim in Pernem taluka.
He further submitted that the GCZMA had, in its 379th meeting held on January 4, 2023, decided to drop the show-cause notice issued to the petitioner. Despite this, the demolition order was passed later based on oral complaints, without issuing any notice, which violated principles of natural justice, he argued.
Rao also told the court that after removing the earlier illegal structures on his own, the petitioner had obtained all required permissions, including approval from the GCZMA, for fresh construction. He said these facts were raised in the review application, which remains unheard.
Additional Government Advocate Shubham Priolkar informed the Bench that the review application could not be decided as the term of the existing GCZMA committee ends on December 26, 2025. He added that the formation of a new committee would be done by the Central Government and no timeline could be given.
Taking note of the situation, the Bench observed that the constitution of a new committee may take time and that urgent directions were required. The court said the only solution was to direct the existing committee to hear and decide the review application before its term ends.
Accordingly, the High Court directed the GCZMA to list the matter for hearing on December 24 and to decide the review application by December 26. While disposing of the petition, the court also directed the petitioner to issue notice to all complainants and asked all parties to cooperate for early disposal.
