log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 12 FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2025 GOA 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 120 GSUDA property survey triggers data privacy debate in Margao 2 GOA RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 As dog bite count rises, Cavelossim hotels seek action on stray threat 5 7 comunidades move HC on regularisation of structures n PLEA SEEKING STAY ON IMPLEMENTATION DECLINED n HEARING ON NOVEMBER 13 THE GOAN I NETWORK Abhinav creates history on debut PANAJI: Porvorim’s 24-year-old left-hander, Abhinav Tejrana, etched his name in Goa cricket history by becoming the first player from the state to score a double century on a first-class debut. Tejrana smashed 205 runs, helping Goa reach 566 on Day 2 against Chandigarh in their Ranji Trophy clash at Porvorim. >> See pg 11 PANAJI Seven comunidades, Nagoa, Chinchinim, Carmona, Benaulim, Dramapur, Loutolim, Sancoale, have moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa, challenging the government’s decision to regularise illegal houses on comunidade lands. The High Court declined the petitioners’ interim plea seeking a stay on the implementation of the regularisation scheme. A notice to the government has, however, been issued for a reply, which would be taken up for hearing on November 13. In their plea, the petitioners contended that comunidades are rightful owners of the land and that the government has no authority to transfer ownership to encroachers. They also sought a stay on the amendment enabling regularisation, which was not granted. The petitioners contended that there is no provision in the Code of Communidades,1961 which provides that the government can unilaterally decide in which cas- GOVT’S SAY IN HIGH COURT Encroachments have existed for several years, often with tacit consent of the comunidades Comunidades have sometimes taken fees or issued NOCs for these encroachments Proposed amendment aims to regularize residential structures only, not commercial or other constructions Ensuring shelter for citizens is a constitutional consideration The move is not blanket regularization but limited to specific areas Comunidades would benefit by regaining land and generating revenue through regularization Physically removing encroachments is practically impossible and court cases drag on indefinitely PETITIONERS CONTENTION: Comunidades are rightful owners of the land and the government has no authority to transfer ownership to encroachers es the comunidades should grant or lease out their lands, and/or fix the rent or license fee payable to the comunidades for their lands. There is no provision which enables government to either modify its decision over that of comunidades, concerning the grant of its land, fixation of lease rent or license fees. Representing the government, Advocate General Devidas Pangam argued that the encroachments have existed for several years, allegedly with the tacit consent of the respective comunidades. “They (comunidades) have taken money (fees) and, in some cases, issued NOCs,” the AG submitted, adding that the amendment seeks to regularise only residential structures and not commercial or other constructions. “There is one facet of the Constitution which is to ensure shelter for citizens,” Pangam said, stressing that the move is not a blanket regularisation but limited to specific areas. He further stated that the process would also benefit the comunidades as they would regain vast tracts of land and generate revenue through the regularisation process. The AG also remarked that physically removing the encroachments is practically impossible. “We have seen over the years that such matters drag on in courts indefinitely. It is impossible to remove these encroachments physically,” he said. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had recently stated that the scheme will help 35,000 houses, of which 30,000 belong to original Goans, while the remaining are those settled in the State for over 40 years. Healy’s second consecutive ton leads Australia to big win
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