High Court Orders Inquiry into Revenue Officials for Non-Compliance in Demolishing Eco-Sensitive Government Land

Panaji: One year after the high court’s direction, the revenue secretary decided to conduct an inquiry against mamlatdars, joint mamlatdars and deputy collectors as they failed to demolish and restore govt land in eco-sensitive and CRZ areas.

In April 2024, the high court had directed the revenue secretary to inquire into the conduct of the officials. In summons to revenue officers, revenue secretary Sandip Jacques said that in compliance with the order passed by the high court in a contempt petition, he was directed to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of officials responsible for ensuring compliance with the court’s directions and to fix responsibility for any non-compliance.

Jacques said that while hearing a PIL, the HC had given directions to carry out demolitions and to restore govt land to its original position in pursuance of the non-compliance of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) directions to the collector (North Goa) to execute the demolition.

Jacques said that the HC, observed that there was a delay of almost two yearsin the execution of its order of 2021, and the authorities have not even bothered to explain the delay. “Now you are hereby directed to appear in person to provide an explanation regarding the alleged delay on your part in the execution of the demolition and to clarify any lapses,” Jacques said. “Failure to appear shall be considered as non-cooperation with the inquiry proceedings and may attract further action as deemed appropriate.”

The HC had said that the revenue secretary must comply with principles of natural justice and give such officers a full opportunity to explain themselves. “After fixing the responsibility on the particular officers, an entry must be made in their confidential rolls. This exercise must be completed within six months, and a compliance report must be filed by the revenue secretary,” the court had said.

The revenue secretary or the chief secretary must also consider issuing a circular to all the officials mostly involved in compliance with court directives to ensure prompt compliance, the court said.

“We find that even after contempt petitions are filed, the officials take matters extremely lightly and do not even bother to file any affidavit to explain non-compliance or delays in compliance,” the court observed.