PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday pulled up the North Goa Collector and statutory arbitrator for delaying an 85-year-old man’s plea for enhanced compensation for land acquired for the New Zuari Bridge project.
Antonio Florencio do Rosario moved the court after his application remained pending for nearly five years. His counsel, Advocates Gaurish Agni and Ankur Kumar, said his land in Survey Nos. 202/2 and 202/3 at Goa Velha, Tiswadi, was acquired in 2018 for National Highway 66 and the new Zuari Bridge approach road.
Seeking enhanced compensation, Rosario approached the statutory arbitrator in 2019 under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956.
The court noted that proceedings remained dormant from 2021 until June 13, 2023, and were still undecided over three years after resuming.
“We have perused the Roznama and find no reason why the matter has been adjourned from month to month when it should have been disposed of with greater haste,” it observed, expressing concern over the delays faced by the octogenarian.
A report on debris allegedly dumped on Rosario’s land also remains pending. Though sought from the Tiswadi Mamlatdar on August 19, 2026, it was not submitted.
The court directed the Mamlatdar to inspect the site and submit the report within a week, and ordered the Collector to decide the arbitration application by December 15, 2026, and submit a compliance report to the Registrar (Judicial) by December 20.
