Vasco/Panaji: The Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has filed a writ petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking removal of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj allegedly erected illegally on its property in Vasco da Gama.
According to an official communication dated February 18, the port authority has sought urgent intervention of the court, contending that the statue was installed without lawful authorisation on land belonging to it.
The matter is expected to be mentioned for urgent circulation before a division bench on February 23. February 19 has been declared a court holiday and the bench is not scheduled to sit on February 20.
In the petition, MPA stated that on February 16, it noticed that some persons had illegally encroached upon its property and erected a statue on the land. It further stated that due to inaction by the authorities in taking immediate and prompt steps against the alleged illegality, the covered structure/statue on a mild steel framework continues to exist on the property, and further illegalities are being carried out by unknown persons, including ground levelling and clearing of the surrounding area.
The port authority submitted that the property falls under “public premises” as defined under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, making the encroachment a cognisable offence.
It stated that in the circumstances, it was constrained to approach the High Court under Article 226 seeking a writ of mandamus directing the authorities to act immediately in respect of the alleged illegality.
Pending hearing and final disposal of the petition, MPA has prayed that the court direct the authorities to ensure that no further work of any nature relating to the alleged illegal structure/statue is undertaken on the property.
MPA has also notified the South Goa Collector, the Deputy Collector of Mormugao taluka, the police inspector of Mormugao Police Station and the Chief Officer of Mormugao Municipal Council, calling upon them to ensure that no further activities, functions or events are conducted at the site involving the disputed statue until the matter is heard.
It stated that any failure to prevent such activities would be brought to the notice of the High Court.
The petition raises concerns regarding protection of public property and adherence to due legal process in installations on government-owned land.
Amonkar inaugurates Shivaji statue
Vasco : Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar on Thursday evening inaugurated a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected on a plot of land belonging to the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) in Sada, even as the port authority has approached the High Court over the issue.
Addressing the gathering at the event, Amonkar said that for the past two years he had been requesting the port authority to grant a no objection certificate (NOC) to install the statue on what he described as unused land.
“This place had become a black spot filled with garbage. We cleaned the area and formally sought an NOC from MPA to install the statue here. We also wrote to the Ministry of Shipping and Ports seeking permission, but received no response,” he said.
The MLA said that after waiting for a considerable period without any reply from the authorities, local Shiv Premis decided to proceed with the installation.
“This is a historic day for the Mormugao constituency. The Shiv Premis will not step back,” Amonkar said.
