Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Supreme Court has appointed retired Additional Sessions Judge Edgar Fernandes to lead a fact-finding committee in the ongoing dispute over a controversial bungalow constructed near a protected heritage precinct in Old Goa.
The appointment comes while hearing a set of Special Leave Petitions concerning allegations of illegal construction near the heritage zone. The fact-finding panel has been tasked with verifying the original structure, evaluating the current construction, and reviewing all documents submitted by the respondents. The committee has been directed to submit its report within four weeks.
The Supreme Court observed that a fresh inspection was necessary, citing the earlier inspection report dated February 2, 2024. The court noted that another independent assessment would help establish clearer facts regarding the extent and legality of the construction permitted.
During the hearing, the Director of Archaeology informed the bench that an ASI team had inspected the site on February 1, 2024. According to the ASI’s findings, the structure built on the property by Suvarna Lotlikar (or the current owner) exceeded the scope of the permission issued on February 3, 2020, which allowed only the repair of a dilapidated coconut shed measuring 7m x 7.2m. The ASI stated that the present bungalow was not covered under that approval and amounted to a violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
The committee’s forthcoming report is expected to play a key role in determining the legality of the construction and any further action to be taken in the case.
