PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday stayed the demolition of a structure at Morjim after it was informed that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had never notified the applicant, Radhika Halarnkar, about the proceedings that led to the demolition order.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten Venegavkar granted interim relief while hearing Halarnkar’s miscellaneous civil application in a contempt petition.
The court noted that Halarnkar’s main grievance was that she was never served the GCZMA notice issued under Section 5, which had instead been served on her brother-in-law, Mohan Halarnkar.
“However, considering that the issue raised is the fact that the GCZMA had never notified the Applicant of the proceedings, we deem it appropriate to stay the demolition of structure ‘Q’ at Sr No/item No. 5 in paragraph 3 of our Order dated 08.07.2026,” the Bench said. The stay will remain in force until July 29, when the main contempt petition is scheduled to be heard. The court, however, clarified that since the matter was being considered under contempt jurisdiction, Halarnkar would have to challenge the GCZMA order dated February 28, 2025, through appropriate legal proceedings.
