Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has granted additional time to village panchayats to submit sworn statements detailing approvals issued to commercial establishments, extending the deadline to March 30.
The directive forms part of the court’s ongoing examination of the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane venue in Arpora on December 6, 2025, which resulted in 25 fatalities. The court has broadened the scope of the proceedings to scrutinise possible systemic failures in the grant of licences and building permissions.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar passed the order during Monday’s hearing, noting that while some panchayats had filed affidavits on the day of the hearing, several others had yet to comply.
The matter is being heard suo motu as a public interest litigation. In earlier proceedings, a Bench led by Justice Suman Shyam had observed that the tragedy reflected a serious violation of fundamental rights.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the court that strict corrective steps were essential and accountability needed to be established. He said the accused persons are currently in custody and that multiple probes are underway, including departmental action against suspended officials.
Pangam also told the court that the structure where the fire occurred lacked mandatory approvals, including construction permission, clearance from the Town and Country Planning Department, and other statutory licences. He alleged that permissions were misused, claiming that a repair licence and house number were improperly granted to facilitate an illegal structure, and that a trade licence application was made without proper identification of the premises.
Taking note of these submissions, the Bench directed village panchayat secretaries to furnish details through affidavits on construction licences, trade permits, and occupancy certificates issued to commercial entities, as part of a wider audit into regulatory lapses.
