PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa recorded the statement of the Village Panchayat of Ella, Old Goa, that it would not grant an occupancy certificate to the disputed Old Goa bungalow on Survey No 4/1 without leave of the Court.
The Division Bench of Justice M S Karnik and Justice Valmiki Menezes is hearing a PIL Writ Petition filed by the Goa Foundation and the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) pleading for removal of the bungalow before the decennial Exposition of the sacred remains of St Francis Xavier in November.
The PIL pointed out the unprecedented construction of the structure located within the protected area of the Old Goa Heritage Complex, alleging it is carried out in flagrant violation of the permit granted under Section 19 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and on the basis of support from several colourable approvals obtained under entirely fraudulent representations and documents.
It also alleged that the structure also contravenes two judgments of the High Court.
The petitioners first approached the Supreme Court with a similar petition that passed an order permitting the petitioners to raise issues before the High Court on the grounds made out in the order. The next hearing is scheduled on October 17.
