PANAJI
Coming down heavily on village panchayats for failing to submit compliance reports on illegal constructions, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday ordered an inquiry into the failure and directed that appropriate disciplinary action be initiated against erring panchayat secretaries within four weeks.
The court noted that over 120 panchayats have failed to file compliance reports despite clear directions issued earlier, terming the lapse a serious “dereliction of duty.” It has directed the Directorate of Panchayat to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances under which the secretaries failed to comply with its March 6, 2025 order.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation concerning illegal constructions across the State. The matter has now been adjourned for further hearing on May 4.
In its detailed order dated March 6, 2025, the High Court had laid down multiple directions for authorities to act against illegal constructions and implement preventive measures. It had categorised such constructions into five segments to streamline enforcement.
The first category includes illegal structures along roadsides or major roads within municipal areas, while the second pertains to similar violations within panchayat jurisdictions. The third category covers illegal constructions in panchayat areas being used for commercial purposes, and the fourth relates to commercial illegal structures within municipal limits. The fifth category involves illegal constructions in paddy fields.
While the case initially focused on illegal constructions, the High Court later expanded its scope to examine systemic lapses in the grant of licences and construction approvals, particularly in the wake of the fatal fire at the “Birch by Romeo Lane” restaurant in Arpora on December 6, 2025, which claimed 25 lives.
Last week, the court had granted what it described as a final extension to village panchayats to file sworn affidavits detailing permissions issued to commercial establishments, setting April 6 as the deadline.
During the previous hearing on March 23, a Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Borkar Jamsandekar observed that while some panchayats submitted affidavits on the day of the hearing, several others remained non-compliant despite repeated opportunities.
The Bench has directed panchayat secretaries to disclose, through affidavits, complete details of construction permissions, trade licences and occupancy certificates issued to commercial establishments as part of a broader audit into regulatory lapses.
The issue dates back to 2024, when the High Court took suo motu cognisance of rampant illegal constructions on government land and along state and national highways. In March last year, the court had strongly criticised the State government for allowing unchecked and unauthorised development.
“Open spaces are being encroached upon. Paddy fields are being converted without permission. Roads and road-widening areas are encroached upon. Illegal constructions are also coming up in no-development zones. The competent authorities either do not act or avoid taking such action,” the court had observed.
Despite multiple extensions granted since then, continued delays in compliance have now prompted the High Court to initiate strict action, signalling a tougher stance against administrative lapses in curbing illegal constructions across Goa.
