Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has restrained the state govt from carrying out further road construction work for ISKCON project at Borim until final disposal of PIL Writ Petition filed before it.
Giving interim relief to petitioner Abjijit Prabhudessai, the matter has been placed for final hearing in the week commencing from Jan 8, 2024.
The petitioner has challenged the construction of 1.5 Km road to ISKCON’s landlocked property at Borim by the State Govt by spending Rs 2.76 crores.
A vedic village, temple and goshala has been proposed at the 32,000 sqr mtr property.
“Prima facie, doling out of such a largess to a private party may not pass the Constitutional muster,” stated the Court order, further adding that in the present case, at least prima facie, the State’s action seeks to promote the private interests of ISKCON at the cost of the state.
Locals have been up in arms against the project stating that major hill cutting will have severe implications on the local environment.
“The governmental action must not be arbitrary or capricious but must be based on some principle which meets the test of reason and relevance,” the order said.
“All powers vested in the State are meant to be exercised for the public good and in the public interest. A public authority is ordained, therefore, to act reasonably and in good faith and upon lawful and relevant grounds of public interest,” the bench added.
Comment