High Court Orders Action on Illegal RCC Construction at Friends Colony, Chicolna, Bogmalo

Goa, March 24, 2025 – The Bombay High Court at Goa has disposed of a writ petition (No. 227 of 2024) filed by the Forum Against Corruption, Illegalities, and Destruction and two others, challenging unauthorized RCC constructions in Friends Colony, Chicolna, and Bogmalo. The petitioners accused authorities of failing to act against illegal structures on land belonging to the Communidade of Chicolna under Survey No. 7/1.

The case was heard by Justices Bharati H. Dangre and Nivedita P. Mehta. Representing the petitioners was Advocate Samuel Abraham, while multiple legal representatives appeared for the respondents, including Advocate Terence Sequeira for Respondent No.3, Additional Government Advocate Sulekha Kamat for Respondents No.5 and 6, Advocate Shweta Parulekar for Respondent No.4, and Advocates Nikhil Pai and Anant Nagi for Respondent No.7.

Court-Backed Action Against Illegal Structures

The High Court was informed that Respondent No.5, the Administrator of Communidade, South Goa, Margao, had already issued notices to individuals occupying the land in Friends Colony, Chicolna, and Bogmalo. These notices, issued under the authority of Article 371(2) read with Article 372 of the Code of Communidade, directed the occupants to vacate the premises immediately. The notice also warned that any unauthorized structures failing to comply within the stipulated time frame would be demolished at the expense of the encroachers.

The legal counsel for Respondent No.5 and 6 assured the court that the notice would be enforced within eight weeks. Taking this statement into account, the court concluded that the petition had served its purpose and disposed of the matter.

Implications of the Judgment

This ruling reinforces the powers of the Communidade system in Goa and sets a precedent for strict enforcement against unauthorized constructions on communidade land. It also highlights the judiciary’s role in ensuring compliance with government directives and land protection laws.

With this judgment, the illegal RCC structures in Friends Colony, Chicolna, and Bogmalo are set to be removed, bringing relief to the petitioners who sought legal intervention against unauthorized encroachments.