Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday issued notices to the state government in three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by activist Kashinath Shetye challenging the legality of the Majhe Ghar scheme, under which the government has proposed to regularise thousands of illegal structures across Communidade, government and private lands.
Granting the state time to file its affidavit in reply, the Bench adjourned the matter for further hearing on 3 February 2026.
During the hearing, the Goa government raised strong preliminary objections on the maintainability of the three PILs, arguing that six other Communidades have already filed PILs before the same court with identical issues and prayers. The government questioned why an additional PIL by an individual should be entertained when similar petitions are already being adjudicated.
The Advocate General further submitted that petitioner Kashinath Shetye is a serving government employee, which, according to the state, creates a conflict of interest while challenging state policies and administrative decisions.
Shetye’s PILs contend that the Majhe Ghar scheme is unconstitutional, violates land ownership rights of Communidades, and encourages illegal constructions by attempting to legitimise them without due scrutiny.
The matter will now be taken up after the government files its detailed response.
The ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme, introduced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, allows for formal recognition of houses built before 1972 that do not have occupancy certificates.
Under the programme, village panchayats and municipal bodies are required to issue the certificates within seven days upon payment of a Rs 1,000 fee.
The government has stated that the move will help families access legal and financial support and facilitate future construction.
The scheme also covers shops built before 1972, while ownership rights for houses constructed before February 28, 2014, will be granted under Section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. Eligible properties include houses on revenue land, alvara, mokaso, leasehold plots, government property, and comunidade land, for plots measuring up to 400 square metres with an additional two-metre buffer.
