NT Reporter
Panaji
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday, in matter related to the construction of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Vasco, directed the superintendent of police, South Goa, and other authorities to provide the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) all necessary assistance to enable it to remove, dismantle or demolish the statue, pedestal and all other structures constructed at the junction to beautify the area.
The division bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S Jamsandekar directed the South Goa SP, the district collector, the mamlatdar (executive magistrate), Mormugao, police inspectors of Mormugao police station and Bogda police station to provide the MPA all necessary assistance, including by providing adequate police force and/or by issuing such other prohibitory orders that they deem fit around the Headland Sada junction to enable the Authority to restrain any persons from further encroaching on its property, and to enable the MPA to remove, dismantle or demolish the statue, pedestal and all other structures constructed at the junction to beautify
the area.
The MPA had approached the court by filing a writ petition alleging that some persons forcefully entered into the land belonging to the petitioner and illegally started putting up a permanent statue of an iconic figure without taking a permission from the petitioner.
The High Court in its interim order said the South Goa SP shall ensure its enforcement by May 4, 2026 and file a detailed report by the next date of hearing.
The installation of the statue had sparked tension in Mormugao with MLA’s supporters criticising the MPA for objecting to the statue.
After pronouncing the interim order, an advocate for the petitioner prayed for leave to implead Sankalp Padmanabh Amonkar; the High Court granted leave to implead him.
The MPA alleged that despite its police complaint on February 16, 2026 to Bogda police station, no action has been taken by the police to prevent further intrusion into its property.
The High Court said, “We are keeping this petition pending to hear the parties, and especially the MMC on its stand of lack of jurisdiction to take action. Further, since we have concluded that there was gross inaction on the part of the PI of Bogda police station, the executive magistrate of Mormugao taluka, deputy collector, Mormugao taluka and other respondents to prevent the intrusion into the port property, we would like to examine the matter further in this aspect. Hence, we are listing this petition for further hearing to seek affidavits of these parties and their explanation for such inaction. However, our directions contained in the preceding paragraphs shall take effect immediately and shall be followed in letter and spirit.”
