PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday maintained a status quo on the operations of the newly constructed Banastarim market after a petition alleged that the Village Panchayat of Bhom Adcolna violated the Court order and disregarded the Tribal Welfare Department’s recommendation to allocate 27 shops for vendors from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
During the hearing, the petitioner informed the High Court that the Government of India’s Ministry of Tribal Affairs had provided grants for the market’s reconstruction, primarily to benefit the ST community. The petitioner sought a directive from the authorities regarding the reservation of shops for the ST community.
The Directorate of Tribal Affairs had assured that out of the 64 shops, 27 would be reserved for the ST community, while 100 vending spaces in the open area would be allocated for vendors.
However, the Village Panchayat allegedly passed an “illegal resolution” auctioning all the shops in the reconstructed market complex without reserving the spaces for the ST community, as assured. The Panchayat, however, later claimed to have reserved five shops for ST vendors.
The petitioner pointed out the Panchayat’s non-compliance with the High Court’s order and the Tribal Affairs Department’s affidavit, both recorded last year, prompting the plea for status quo. The Bench ordered status quo and adjourned the matter for further hearing in two weeks, during which both the government and the Village Panchayat are directed to submit their replies.
The renovated market complex was inaugurated on August 24, 2023, by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who described it as one of India’s finest market complexes. The market became operational on September 28, 2024, after which disputes over shop allocation emerged, followed by a petition in the High Court.
