Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI, Oct 10: A division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa, comprising Justice Bharti Dangre and Justice Ashish S. Chavan, on Thursday issued notices to the Town Planning Department (TPD) and its Scrutiny Committee on a challenge filed by the Goa Foundation against amendments to the Goa Building Regulations 2010.
The amendments empower the government to approve relaxations in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and building heights across the state, allegedly contrary to the norms established under the regulations.
The petition has challenged the legality of over 739 relaxations allowed by the TCP Department. A companion PIL filed by the Goa Foundation, along with citizens from Margao, Panaji, Chimbel, and Pernem, specifically challenges relaxations granted to entities including Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd., Prakash Gurudas Timblo, Pandurang Timblo, Mahadhan Real Estate LLP, Golden Affairs & Entertainment Pvt Ltd., and Goa Collect Properties Pvt Ltd.
The Court has given the respondents four weeks to file their responses, after which the petitioners will submit rejoinders. The matter is scheduled for hearing on November 17, 2025.
The PIL contends that the amendments allow unrestricted increases in FAR and building height on a plot-by-plot basis without public scrutiny or studies on environmental, social, and planning impacts, effectively favoring a few at the expense of broader urban planning.
Such relaxations are claimed to be disguised “zone changes”, permitting FAR and heights far exceeding the limits of the designated zones. For example, allowing FAR 200 and 24m height in a settlement zone capped at FAR 60 and 9m undermines the zoning framework.
The petition also highlights that over 100 permissions meant for C-1 zones in CBDs like Panaji, Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, and Ponda were allegedly granted in village panchayat areas and non-CBD municipal zones, violating Section 6A.4 of the regulations.
The failure to publish 739 permissions/NOCs until January 2025 is cited as a breach of public transparency and participation rights under Article 19, amounting to an alleged concealment of a “scandal of monumental proportions.”
Senior Advocate Norma Alvares appeared for the Goa Foundation, assisted by Advocates Om D’Costa, Malisa Simoes, and Sherwyn Correia.
