Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court has initiated further proceedings against former Mapusa Municipal Council Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar over alleged delays in carrying out its directions concerning unauthorised structures. The Court has issued a contempt notice after finding a prima facie case that action had been delayed despite clear timelines laid down in an earlier order.
Shetkar has been directed to appear before the Court in person on December 15, 2026. The Bench has cautioned that it may issue warrants if he fails to comply with the direction.
The case originated from a contempt petition filed by Vijay Vasant Harmalkar and another petitioner over the implementation of a judgment delivered on April 17, 2023. Under that judgment, the municipal Chief Officer was required to decide two pending show-cause notices dating back to 2018 by June 30, 2023, and issue an additional notice within 15 days on the basis of the petitioners’ complaints.
Examining the sequence of events, the Court noted that Shetkar was holding the post of Chief Officer on June 26, 2023. Although two of the notices were decided on June 28 that year, the matter relating to the first notice, issued in June 2018, remained unresolved until February 16, 2026, well beyond the deadline fixed by the Court.
The proceedings also highlighted the time taken to move from the disposal of the notices to the demolition stage. The orders reportedly gave the concerned party six months to pursue regularisation of the structures, with removal required if regularisation was not obtained. Despite this condition, the demolition order was issued only on June 25, 2025.
The Court further expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of a formal response from Shetkar during the contempt proceedings. Records showed that notice had been served on June 4, 2025, yet no affidavit had been filed despite more than 19 hearings over a period of around 15 months.
At the latest hearing, the Bench refused another request by the former officer’s lawyer for additional time to file a reply.
In its observations, the Court said the circumstances, at a preliminary stage, suggested that there had been a deliberate effort to postpone action required under its April 17, 2023, order.
The Registry has been instructed to issue the notice for December 15, 2026, when Shetkar must be present personally. The Court has made it clear that non-appearance could lead to the issuance of appropriate warrants.
The matter is scheduled to return before the High Court on that date for further proceedings.
