Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court in Goa has closed a case brought by the All Goa Internet Service Providers Association that contested the Electricity Department’s “unjust” severing of fibre optic cables.
The association decided to withdraw the case after reaching an agreement, which was communicated to Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta during the final proceedings. The court allowed the withdrawal and concluded the matter.
The association claimed that, despite following the proper procedures, the Electricity Department acted in an arbitrary manner. It pointed out that its application for Right of Way (RoW), submitted on November 22, 2023, to the Department of Information Technology, was still unresolved.
The group requested authorization to install fibre networks across seven talukas in Goa but did not receive any approval despite their follow-up inquiries. The petition underscored the National RoW Policy, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and requires states like Goa to support the deployment of fibre using electricity poles.
The association asserted that it complied with this policy but faced cable severing by the Electricity Department before a decision could be reached. The dispute’s resolution prompted the withdrawal of the petition.
