Bombay HC raps Goa govt for sealing old high court buildings in Panaji

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Wednesday slammed Goa govt after it was informed it had sealed the old high court’s buildings — known as Lyceum — in Altinho, Panaji. The new HC complex is in Porvorim.“Possession has not been handed over to you. What is your authority to enter the high court and take possession of the high court?... You have no authority to visit the high court and put the lock,” said a bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe.The case was taken up urgently in a pending PIL by two advocates, represented by advocate Joao Lobo, to preserve the old HC and use it as mediation and arbitration centre.The judges took note of a Sep 3 communication from the registrar, Goa bench, to the registrar general, Bombay HC, regarding sealing of Lyceum buildings.Advocate general Devidas Pangam said a govt building, Junta House, which is from the Portuguese time, is in a deteriorated condition and there was an order under the Disaster Management Act.“There are 20 offices of govt there which have to be immediately shifted. We require these premises urgently for this reason.

After construction of the new high court building, govt always intended to shift these offices to the old premises,” he said.Pangam said there was communication, including by Goa CM to the former CJ, requesting to hand over HC premises to it. He said govt does not want to take over the main building where the courtrooms were situated and where a mediation centre is started. It requires the other buildings which are not in use.

Also, govt will provide a place for mediation and arbitration centres and all facilities. “You are ready to give everything.

But doesn’t mean one fine morning you will go and put your lock. You can’t do it. This is a very very serious matter,” the ACJ said.Pangam said on Aug 21 a letter was sent to HR requesting hand over Lyceum buildings. The judges referred to Bombay HC’s Aug 29 reply that the matter regarding handing over possession is sub judice.

They questioned in the absence of possession being handed over by HC, under whose command the officers had visited the buildings and locked them. When Pangam said “there is an order of govt”, the judges asked him to produce all the records.The judges then granted Pangam “half an hour” to take instructions and warned otherwise it would pass “coercive orders”. At 4pm, Pangam said “by evening we will return the possession”. The judges recorded his statement that the locks put on Lyceum buildings will be removed “by today evening”. The court adjourned the hearing to Sep 17.