the goan I network
MAPUSA
Two years after the High Court of Bombay at Goa ticked off the then tourism minister and BJP leader Dilip Parulekar in the infamous Serula land grab case, the wheels of justice have come to a standstill even as the petitioner conveniently chooses to look the other way.
Despite a clear order from the high court, the State government has failed to act on the illegal structures belonging to Parulekar along the Chogm road in Porvorim.
In its May 6, 2016 order, the high court had said no one had a right to occupy a structure without occupancy certificate and directed the State government to evict Parulekar from occupying the premises.
Besides failure to get occupancy certificate from the local panchayat, the allotment of land was not done in accordance with the code of communidade, the court had observed following a Public Interest Litigation filed by Trajano D’Mello.
The high court called the occupation of the communidade land unauthorized and directed the local panchayat and collector to take immediate steps to stop the occupation by the offenders.
Incidentally, the petitioner, Trajano D’Mello, who was then in the opposition with the NCP and later with Congress, now, finds himself in the ruling coalition government.
D’Mello, who was vigorously pursuing the case, has gone completely silent after joining Goa Forward Party as its chief spokesman.
When contacted, Trajano said the matter was before the government and it was for the State government to take an appropriate decision.
“I have done what I have to do. It’s up to the government to see that all land is reverted to the Serula communidade,” D’Mello said.
