Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The ancient Sanguem Town Hall’s demolition was temporarily halted by the Bombay High Court in Goa on Monday, but the petitioner was not permitted to inhabit the building for security reasons.
One of the merchants, Shaikh Nazir Ahamad, petitioned the High Court for a stay of the authorities’ decision to demolish the 60-year-old building.
Shetye, an additional government lawyer, informed the court that, according to the Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi report, the building was in an unsafe and dilapidated state, and that, with the exception of the petitioner, all other occupants had left.
He said that because of its poor state, the structure is unsafe for habitation and endangers the lives of nearby residents.
The petitioner, who has the right to be accommodated in the new building, was never granted occupancy of the premises, according to the petitioner’s attorney, Adv. Rohit Bras De Sa. This element is also being contested in this case.
He claimed that the notification was just delivered to him on November 7, 2024, and that the demolition crew was there at the location. Additionally, it was argued that the action was unlawful and that the Disaster Management Act of 2005’s provisions did not apply.
The division made up of Justices M S Karnik and Nivedita P. Mehta denied the petitioner permission to continue operating the shop at this time in light of the documents that were on file.
However, the Court ordered the respondents to stop the destruction and to cordon the building for the safety of the public in response to the arguments presented by the Additional Government Advocate and the Adv De Sa, who requested time to consider orders and react.
A follow-up hearing has been scheduled for November 20.
