Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has temporarily halted the demolition of a structure at Morjim after noting submissions that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had not served the demolition notice directly on the property owner.
A Division Bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Hiten Venegavkar passed the interim order on Monday while hearing a miscellaneous civil application filed by property owner Radhika Halarnkar in an ongoing contempt petition.
Halarnkar informed the court that the notice issued under Section 5 of the relevant law had not been served on her. Instead, it was allegedly delivered to her brother-in-law, Mohan Halarnkar, leaving her unaware of the proceedings that eventually led to the demolition order.
After considering the submissions, the Bench observed that the applicant’s principal grievance related to the alleged non-service of notice by the GCZMA. The court consequently ordered that the demolition of Structure ‘Q’, mentioned at Serial No. 5 in paragraph 3 of its order dated July 8, 2026, will remain stayed until further orders.
The interim protection will remain in force until July 29, when the main contempt petition is scheduled for hearing.
The Bench also clarified that the present proceedings are limited to the issue of contempt. It noted that if Halarnkar wishes to challenge the validity of the GCZMA’s demolition order dated February 28, 2025, she must do so through appropriate legal proceedings before the competent forum.
