As predicted, the illegal and fraudulently built bungalow owned by the family of BJP national spokesperson Shaina NC which has come up within the heritage precincts at Old Goa due to lack of diligence by the authorities has now got a legal reprieve. The High Court order quashing that demolition notice issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is in accordance with law. With ulterior motives the ASI did not follow the due process of law while issuing that demolition notice intentionally leaving a loophole for the bungalow to survive. The matter will drag on for years if not decades while it travels through various stages of our cumbersome legal process and the government will craftily at an opportune time regularise it.
It was incumbent on the law enforcement authorities to ensure that this monstrous bungalow at Old Goa and all those involved in fraudulent acts and forgery to facilitate this construction should have felt the full force of the law and brought to book as a matter of urgency. On this serious issue, the authorities conveniently dragged their feet instead of ensuring that the wheels of justice turned a lot faster, sparing no one the punishment they deserved. Justice delayed is justice denied. The authorities were duty bound to act against this and all other illegal structures, many owned by local elected representatives that have come up with political patronage destroying the sanctity and solemnity of our UNESCO world heritage site.
