PANAJI
The Supreme Court-appointed inspection has concluded that the controversial bungalow at the Old Goa UNESCO World Heritage site was constructed by demolishing an existing structure. The report has indicated serious questions over the permissions granted for “repair work”.
The findings are contained in a report submitted to the Supreme Court by Edgar Fernandes, retired District and Additional Sessions Judge, Goa, who was appointed by the apex court to inspect and supervise the assessment of the disputed site.
"The permission required the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Goa Circle, to monitor the repair work. Nine status reports with photographs in the ASI records, indicate that the disputed structure standing in Survey No. 4/1 in Village Ella is constructed after demolishing the structure that was originally existing therein," reads an extract of the 100-page report.
Justice Fernandes was tasked with inspecting Plot No. B, admeasuring 2,400 square metres, located at Survey No. 4/1 of Village Ella, Old Goa, and owned by Suvarna Lotlikar. The inspection followed a Supreme Court order to examine the permission for repairs granted by the Director (Monuments-II) on February 3, 2020.
As per the report earlier placed before the Bench, Justice Fernandes conducted site inspections on December 30, 2025 and January 7, 2026, and submitted detailed findings along with photographs of the structure standing on Plot B.
The property is bounded by Survey No. 4/1A on the eastern side, motorable roads to the north and west, and an old fortification wall to the south, which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) considers to be pre-Portuguese. The report noted that the plot is enclosed by a loose stone wall on the north and west, a compound wall of the adjoining property on the east, and GI sheets covering portions of the eastern and northern boundaries.
"There is a disputed structure on the property in Survey No. 4/1. It is a ground plus one floor building with RCC pillars, beams, laterite masonry, RCC slabs, and PCC flooring. The total height is 8.5 meters. The ground floor has six rooms, but the upper storey is inaccessible as there is no staircase. The structure appears to be new construction," it said.
According to the Town Planner and Draughtsman, the structure’s measurements match the plan approved by the Town and Country Planning Department, the Conservation Committee, the Primary Health Centre, and the Village Panchayat, except for the unconstructed staircase. The approved plan indicates six rooms on each floor, totalling 12 rooms, along with a lobby on the ground floor.
However, the report pointed out that the plan lacks authentication from the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. It also recorded the presence of a heap of debris, largely consisting of laterite stones, near the south-western wall of the structure.
"Apart from the disputed structure, there are four temporary, broken tin sheds on the property... The inspection is in the context of a repair permission granted by the Director (Monuments-II) on 03.02.2020, which stipulated no change in facade design, no variation in dimensions compared to the existing structure, and that it does not cover reconstruction..." it said, concluding that the permission dated February 3, 2020 does not include a plan or photographs of the ‘residential house’ to be repaired.
The report further highlighted discrepancies in the documentation submitted to authorities.
"The plan in Annexure 'A' shows the Proposed House but not the 'Existing House', contrary to relevant regulations. The Town Planner also stated that no photograph of the existing house was provided when seeking the NOC from the Town and Country Planning Department, as required by regulations."
Information regarding the original structure was obtained from ASI Goa Circle records, including a file submitted by Suvarna Lotlikar. The Director (Monuments-II), New Delhi, after receiving an application from the original owner, had sought a report from the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Goa Circle. The report dated November 16, 2018 stated that the only structure at the site was a small dilapidated hut, supported by photographs.
"Applications for repair permission by Suvarna Lotlikar and Jose Maria De Goveia Pinto state that the 'residential house' was repaired and renovated in 1986 with Panchayat permission. An application from 1986 to the Village Panchayat of Old Goa, found states that house no.57 was used for storing coconuts and housing employees," it said concluding that disputed structure was built after demolishing the original structure.
